Protect Your Microbes to Support Healthy Bones

Posted by Dr. Della Parker     on October 26, 2016

Bones are constantly reconstructing themselves through a process of removing old bone tissue and replacing it with new bone tissue. A disruption in bone tissue replenishment can result in bone disease. Understanding how gut microbes influence your bones is the first step to protecting your microbes to support healthy bones. Learn how gut microbes regulate the availability of nutrients necessary for healthy bones below.

Gut microbes regulate the availability of nutrients important for bone health

Healthy bones require a multitude of nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, vitamin K2, vitamin A, and magnesium. Recent research has also suggested a role of several B vitamins and even vitamins C and E in bone health (20). Animals raised on a nutrient-depleted diet have reduced bone length (21).

Disruption of the microbiota can significantly alter nutrient absorption. Gut dysbiosis has been shown to increase the number of calories absorbed from food (22, 23). Yet it can also result in inflammation of the gut epithelium, the location of nutrient transporters that allow for the absorption of vitamins and minerals. This paradoxically results in individuals that are both overweight and malnourished (24).

In addition to influencing absorption and metabolism, microbes themselves also synthesize some of our vitamins. These include thiamin (B1), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin (B7), folate, tetrahydrofolate, pyridoxal phosphate, and vitamin K2 (25, 26).

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At Stellar Health and Wellness, we are moms and know how much work moms do. If you are a mom and want to focus on your wellness. Dr. Della treats all types of conditions but has a special interest in digestive problems, chronic fatigue, and thyroid dysfunction. Contact Dr. Della Parker for an appointment today 503-344-6631.

SRC: Learn more about microbiota and bone health at: https://chriskresser.com/the-microbiota-and-bone-health-yet-another-reason-to-protect-your-gut/