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Understanding Osteoporosis: Human Bone Density, Genetic Mechanisms, Gut Microbiota, and Future Prospects

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Abstract

Osteoporosis is a systemic condition of the skeleton that leads to diminished bone mass, a breakdown in the bone tissue’s microscopic architecture, and an elevated risk of breaking a bone. The elderly and women particularly after menopause are disproportionately affected, and the condition generally stays undiagnosed until a broken bone causes severe pain and immobility. Causes of osteoporosis include low bone mass, more than normal bone loss, changes in hormone levels (decreased estrogen or testosterone), certain diseases and therapies, and lifestyle factors like smoking and inactivity. The spine, hip, and forearm are particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis-related fractures. The purpose of this article is to present a thorough understanding of osteoporosis, including the disease’s connection to bone density in humans, and the major part played by genetic pathways and gut flora. The causes of osteoporosis, the effects of aging on bone density, and why some groups experience a higher incidence of the disease than others are investigated. The paper also includes animal and human experiments investigating the link between gut flora and osteoporosis. Finally, it looks to the future and speculates on possible developments in osteoporosis prevention and therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited, Hyderabad, 500016, India

    Jayesh J. Ahire

  2. Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Sonipat, 131028, India

    Vikram Kumar

  3. Institute of Biology Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 5060, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Alka Rohilla

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  1. Jayesh J. Ahire
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  2. Vikram Kumar
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  3. Alka Rohilla
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J. J. A.: conceptualization, writing original draft, review and editing. V. K. and A. R.: writing original draft, review and editing. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jayesh J. Ahire.

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J. J. A. was employed by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories had no direct and indirect role in the design/analysis/writing/publication of this review article. Other authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Ahire, J.J., Kumar, V. & Rohilla, A. Understanding Osteoporosis: Human Bone Density, Genetic Mechanisms, Gut Microbiota, and Future Prospects. Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. 16, 875–883 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-023-10185-0

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