Chapter 6 - Gastrointestinal Tract and the Control of Bone Mass

Abstract

This chapter focuses on novel findings obtained from clinical studies and mouse models that demonstrate the importance of intact gastric acidification for calcium homeostasis and skeletal integrity. Given the high prevalence of hypochlorhydria in the aged population, it is indeed important to address the question of whether an increased gastric pH is a relevant risk factor for osteoporosis, and, if so, if these individuals would profit from specific calcium supplementation. Moreover, the following discussion of the current knowledge regarding these questions provides another example for the critical importance of a complete osteologic patient assessment and for the requirement of in vivo models to understand bone as an integral part of the organism.