Probiotics and Isoflavones as a Promising Therapeutic for Calcium Status and Bone Health: A Narrative Review.

Iskandar Azmy Harahap,Joanna Suliburska

doi:10.3390/foods10112685

Abstract

Probiotics have potential clinical effects for treating and preventing osteoporosis. Meanwhile, isoflavones have attracted much attention due to their ability to prevent postmenopausal symptoms. Research has established that probiotics and isoflavones can regulate hormones, immune cells, and the gastrointestinal system, acting as links in the gut–bone axis. However, combining the effects of probiotics and isoflavones on calcium status and bone health is a more novel and a still-evolving research area. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the foremost strains that influence bone health to a significant extent. Among the isoflavones, daidzein, genistein, and the metabolites of genistein (such as equol) stimulate bone formation. It can be concluded that probiotics and isoflavones promote bone health by regulating calcium uptake, gut microbiota, and various metabolic pathways that are associated with osteoblast activity and bone formation. Nevertheless, further experiments of probiotics and isoflavones are still necessary to confirm the association between calcium bioavailability and bone health.

Highlights

Osteoporosis is progressively becoming a very grave issue worldwide
With recent direct and indirect evidence in mind, this review focuses on the combination of probiotics and isoflavones and their effect on the host’s calcium status and bone health
Research on the effects of probiotics and their effects on the calcium status and bone health is limited compared to isoflavone in in vitro studies (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Osteoporosis is progressively becoming a very grave issue worldwide. This condition affects numerous people of all races and genders, and its occurrence will expand with the population, most frequently in Caucasians, women, and older people [1]. The gradual loss of bone with ageing is a normal condition. It may be accelerated by internal and external variables such as menopause, severe health conditions, and life factors such as an inadequate diet, insufficient exercise, smoking, or intemperate alcohol consumption [2]. The interactions between dietary calcium intake and bone health seem to differ; no consistent relationships have been demonstrated between dietary calcium and bone strength parameters. There is acknowledged evidence of the interaction between calcium and vitamin D [5]

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Conclusion