Probiotic use decreases intestinal inflammation and increases bone density in healthy male but not female mice

Abstract

Intestinal inflammation (ie: inflammatory bowel disease, IBD) can cause osteoporosis. Probiotics, beneficial microorganisms, are currently being examined to reduce gut inflammation and treat IBD. Here, we tested if treating healthy male and female mice (moved from pathogen free to standard housing) with L. reuteri (a probiotic with anti‐TNF activity) could affect intestinal and bone health. Adult mice were given L. reuteri orally by gavage 3X/week for four weeks. L. reuteri suppressed basal intestinal TNF mRNA levels in male mice, but interestingly not female mice. Microcomputed tomography identified that L. reuteri intake increased trabecular bone parameters (mineral density, volume, trabecular number, etc..) in the distal femur metaphyseal region as well as in the lumbar vertebrae in male mice. In contrast, female mice did not display a bone response. Cortical bone parameters did not change in either gender. Histomorphometry and serum makers indicate increased osteoblast bone formation in L. reuteri treated male mice. Taken together our studies indicate that responses to oral probiotic use are gender dependent; only males display increased osteoblast activity and enhanced bone volume.