NEW DELHI: A healthy gut may be far more important for women’s bone health than previously believed. New research conducted by AIIMS has uncovered a critical immune mechanism linking gut bacteria to bone loss in postmenopausal women, raising the possibility of preventing osteoporosis through safer, non-hormonal approaches such as probiotics.For decades, osteoporosis was largely seen as a consequence of ageing and declining oestrogen levels. Scientists now say the disease is also driven by immune imbalance — a concept termed Immunoporosis by Dr Rupesh K Srivastava, Additional Professor in Translational Immunology, Osteoimmunology and Immunoporosis Lab, an ICMR-collaborative centre of excellence in bone health.Common myths around menopause we need to stop believingThe latest study shows that oestrogen deficiency after menopause triggers chronic inflammation, which disrupts immune cells responsible for maintaining bone strength. At the centre of this process are regulatory T cells, or Tregs — immune cells that normally help keep inflammation in check. Researchers found that menopause upsets the balance between different Treg populations, particularly those generated in peripheral tissues such as the gut. As this balance collapses, protective Tregs are diverted towards becoming inflammatory Th17 cells, which actively promote bone breakdown.This immune shift, Srivastava says, accelerates bone loss and plays a pivotal role in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Crucially, the study identifies the gut as the primary site where this damage unfolds. The breakthrough came when researchers tested the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus, a commonly used probiotic. Supplementation with the beneficial bacteria restored immune balance in the gut, reversing the rise in Th17 cells and stabilising protective Tregs. This effect was driven by butyrate, a gut-derived compound known for its anti-inflammatory properties.Even more striking, immune cells “primed” by butyrate showed a significantly reduced ability to activate osteoclasts — the cells responsible for bone erosion — directly linking gut immunity to bone preservation. Researchers say this is the first study to clearly identify a gut-based immune pathway driving postmenopausal osteoporosis. The findings reinforce growing evidence that osteoporosis is not merely a bone disorder but a systemic immune condition influenced by gut health.With long-term safety concerns surrounding many osteoporosis drugs, experts believe the discovery could reshape future treatment strategies. Probiotics and other immune-modulating therapies may eventually complement — or in some cases reduce reliance on — conventional medications, offering women a safer way to protect bone health after menopause. The study adds to mounting scientific consensus: caring for the gut may be key to safeguarding skeletal health.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSupreme Court Halts Bail For Ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar In Unnao Rape Case, Signals Tough Stand’Called Chinki, Chinese, Momo’: Tripura Student’s Killing In Dehradun Triggers Protests Across StateBangladesh Faces Political Rupture As Student Leaders Back Jamaat While Minority Attacks ContinueAt Least One Dead After Fire Engulfs 2 Coaches Of Ernakulam Express With 158 On Board In Andhra“Violence Being Used to Stop Polls”: Ex-Spy Lucky Bisht on Bangladesh KillingsOwaisi Urges Protection of Bangladesh Minorities Ahead of February Polls‘Love Jihad Claim False’: UP Woman Speaks Out After Bajrang Dal Crashes BirthdayUnnao Rape Case: Activists Protest Outside Delhi High Court Over Sengar BailShashi Tharoor Responds To Digvijaya Singh, Says Congress Needs Discipline, Not Lessons From RSSPakistan FM Says Islamabad Will Proactively Rebuild Relations With Bangladesh Post Polls123PhotostoriesMumbai’s Bhandup Gets Connectivity Boost as New FOB Eases East–West Pedestrian MovementTop 5 richest cities in India by GDP in 2025Winter Special: How to make Lehsuni Chicken Curry for lunch10 Turkish desserts one must try at least once‘Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra’, ‘Laalo’ to ‘Su From So’: Regional movies that won hearts in 20255 major wedding trends of 2025 that might be seen in 2026 too10 most ordered dishes by Indians in 2025Asthma vs bronchitis: Key differences in symptoms and treatment methods10 countries with the highest number of snake species in the worldHow to make South Indian Spinach Idli for breakfast123Hot PicksSilver price todayPAN-Aadhaar linkingCristiano RonaldoGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundIndian Railways fareBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingMatt Hardy and Reby Sky Net WorthTravis KelcePatrick MahomesRobert Kraft & Gayle Benson Net WorthAjit PawarLebron JamesWWE Raw PreviewUnnao Rape CaseRajkumar BafnaNew York Yankees
NEW DELHI: A healthy gut may be far more important for women’s bone health than previously believed. New research conducted by AIIMS has uncovered a critical immune mechanism linking gut bacteria to bone loss in postmenopausal women, raising the possibility of preventing osteoporosis through safer, non-hormonal approaches such as probiotics.For decades, osteoporosis was largely seen as a consequence of ageing and declining oestrogen levels. Scientists now say the disease is also driven by immune imbalance — a concept termed Immunoporosis by Dr Rupesh K Srivastava, Additional Professor in Translational Immunology, Osteoimmunology and Immunoporosis Lab, an ICMR-collaborative centre of excellence in bone health.
The latest study shows that oestrogen deficiency after menopause triggers chronic inflammation, which disrupts immune cells responsible for maintaining bone strength. At the centre of this process are regulatory T cells, or Tregs — immune cells that normally help keep inflammation in check. Researchers found that menopause upsets the balance between different Treg populations, particularly those generated in peripheral tissues such as the gut. As this balance collapses, protective Tregs are diverted towards becoming inflammatory Th17 cells, which actively promote bone breakdown.This immune shift, Srivastava says, accelerates bone loss and plays a pivotal role in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Crucially, the study identifies the gut as the primary site where this damage unfolds. The breakthrough came when researchers tested the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus, a commonly used probiotic. Supplementation with the beneficial bacteria restored immune balance in the gut, reversing the rise in Th17 cells and stabilising protective Tregs. This effect was driven by butyrate, a gut-derived compound known for its anti-inflammatory properties.Even more striking, immune cells “primed” by butyrate showed a significantly reduced ability to activate osteoclasts — the cells responsible for bone erosion — directly linking gut immunity to bone preservation. Researchers say this is the first study to clearly identify a gut-based immune pathway driving postmenopausal osteoporosis. The findings reinforce growing evidence that osteoporosis is not merely a bone disorder but a systemic immune condition influenced by gut health.With long-term safety concerns surrounding many osteoporosis drugs, experts believe the discovery could reshape future treatment strategies. Probiotics and other immune-modulating therapies may eventually complement — or in some cases reduce reliance on — conventional medications, offering women a safer way to protect bone health after menopause. The study adds to mounting scientific consensus: caring for the gut may be key to safeguarding skeletal health.
