Gut health may boost bone density: probiotic study shows promise

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Postmenopausal women (between 2 and 5 years after their last menstrual period) 2. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan-based T-score of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) of less than -1.49 (i.e. a normal value according to the World Health Organization) 3. Body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 30 4. Vitamin 25 (OH)D levels between 31-50 ng/mL Exclusion Criteria: 1. The last menstrual period less than 2 or more than 5 years before study recruitment 2. BMI under 18 or above 30 3. Oral or transdermal hormone therapy with estrogens and/or progestogens within the last 6 months 4. Corticosteroid or thyroid hormone therapy within the last 6 months 5. History of osteopenia or osteoporosis 6. Neoplastic disease treated with cytostatic agents within the last 12 months 7. Autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis; malabsorption syndromes, including celiac disease; chronic kidney disease; chronic liver failure; endocrine disorders, including Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves' disease, Cushing disease or syndrome, hyperparathyroidism, hypogonadism, hyperprolactinemia, acromegaly, diabetes mellitus; and other chronic conditions affecting bone metabolism 8. Antibiotic therapy within the last 2 months prior to study recruitment 9. Probiotic use within the last 2 months prior to study recruitment 10. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation within the 2 months prior to study recruitment 11. Treatment with antidepressant or antipsychotic agents involving a change of the agents or dosage within the last 3 months 12. Substance use disorder (alcohol, drugs, nicotine) 13. History of organ transplantation 14. Exposure to the SARS-Cov-2 virus within 14 days prior to study recruitment (based on patient declaration) 15. An acute COVID-19 infection within 14 days prior to study recruitment (based on patient declaration) 16. A surgical procedure scheduled to take place during this study 17. Participation in another study within the last 6 months 18. Inability to give an informed consent in writing 19. Any disease or circumstances that, according to the Investigator or Sponsor, might prevent the subject from completing the study or following study procedures and requirements