Osteoporosis Osteopenia and the Gut
 

I thought this might be of interest to some of you. I know I have a problem with Osteopenia almost Osteoporosis. I do not take any meds so mine is strictly from malabsorption and probably Vitamin D3 deficiency.

What I find really interesting is the statement about not giving the gut its due credit. There are many articles that discuss the gut as the second brain. I feel when scientist and doctors start looking at the whole picture they will realize that It IS the gut that is causing many of our diseases.

This is some info from the article from Columbia University Medical Center Newsletter.

The title of the article is "The Gutsy Side of Bone"

This is how the article starts,

"Serotonin, the same chemical used by the brain to influence mood, appetitie, and sleep, also controls bone growth when released from the gut, according to a new discovery by CUMC scientists."

This was reported by Gerard Karsenty, MD, PHD, chair of genetics and Development in P&S, in the Nov. 26, 2008, issue of Cell.

The last quote is "Whether or not serotonin-based drugs are found for osteoporosis, Dr. Karsenty says he has new respect for the uncalcified parts of the human anatomy. "That a vital control of bone proliferation stems from the gut is amazing and it gives pause to those in my field who did not give the gut its due examination or the credit it deserves for how much it controls in the body.," Dr. Karsenty says. "And that includes me."

In summary it states a mistake in the lab led the scientists to the gastro tract , where 95% of the body's serotonin is produced, there they discovered that Lrp5 controls serotonin production in the gut, and the serotonin from the gut inhibits the creation of new bone.

Here is a link someone just gave me about the Doctor and his research:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/he...bone.html?_r=1

Llonghair

Hi Llonghair,
Why don't you take some medication (calcium + vitamin D supplements for instance)?
I took a bone density test one month ago and it came out OK, bone density decreased a little bit compared to a reference test I did 18 months ago but I'm still on or above average.
I considered that as a success as I've been on Pred since August 2007 and a year ago I was taking 75 mg/day (I'm now at 13 mg/d).
I take 500 mg/d Calcium + vitD, + Actonel (once a week) and try to have enough milk and cheese in my food schedule, should I have known, I would have skipped Actonel (a biphosphonate) and boosted calcium…
Maurice.