A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments

Abstract Osteoporosis is the most common bone metabolic disease, but the altitude environment increases the incidence of osteoporosis. Gut microbiota is a key potential target for osteoporosis. However, it is not clear how plateau environment (hypoxia/hypothermia) interferes with the development of...

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Main Authors: Yajun Qiao, Huimin Zheng, Ruiying Cheng, Lin Rong, Juan Guo, Guoqiang Li, Lixin Wei, Tingting Gao, Zhongshu Shan, Hongtao Bi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00994-0
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author Yajun Qiao
Huimin Zheng
Ruiying Cheng
Lin Rong
Juan Guo
Guoqiang Li
Lixin Wei
Tingting Gao
Zhongshu Shan
Hongtao Bi
author_facet Yajun Qiao
Huimin Zheng
Ruiying Cheng
Lin Rong
Juan Guo
Guoqiang Li
Lixin Wei
Tingting Gao
Zhongshu Shan
Hongtao Bi
author_sort Yajun Qiao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Osteoporosis is the most common bone metabolic disease, but the altitude environment increases the incidence of osteoporosis. Gut microbiota is a key potential target for osteoporosis. However, it is not clear how plateau environment (hypoxia/hypothermia) interferes with the development of osteoporosis by affecting gut microbiota. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explain that hypoxia and hypothermia environment is involved in bone metabolism regulation by affecting gut microbiota, which may be one of the pathways for the early development of osteoporosis. This paper reviews a large number of clinical and basic studies to systematically evaluate the pathway by which gut microbiota is involved in regulating bone metabolism, and further discuss the potential effects of hypoxia/hypothermia on gut microbiota in regulating bone metabolism. This review summarizes that gut microbiota was mainly involved in the regulation of bone metabolism through immune, hormone and metabolite levels, while hypothermia/hypoxia affected bone metabolism mainly through the effects of microbial immune response and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) secretion. In addition, our interpretation of Tibetan dietary patterns reveals a new potential complementary therapy for osteoporosis intervention. Although the initial results are exciting, more trials are needed to understand the interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and bone metabolism.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-050ce9af878c4d3bb291a17ddb3a7c192025-08-20T03:46:03ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-07-0144111910.1186/s41043-025-00994-0A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environmentsYajun Qiao0Huimin Zheng1Ruiying Cheng2Lin Rong3Juan Guo4Guoqiang Li5Lixin Wei6Tingting Gao7Zhongshu Shan8Hongtao Bi9Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceSchool of Psychology, Chengdu Medical CollegeDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, People’s Hospital of Qinghai ProvinceQinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of ScienceAbstract Osteoporosis is the most common bone metabolic disease, but the altitude environment increases the incidence of osteoporosis. Gut microbiota is a key potential target for osteoporosis. However, it is not clear how plateau environment (hypoxia/hypothermia) interferes with the development of osteoporosis by affecting gut microbiota. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explain that hypoxia and hypothermia environment is involved in bone metabolism regulation by affecting gut microbiota, which may be one of the pathways for the early development of osteoporosis. This paper reviews a large number of clinical and basic studies to systematically evaluate the pathway by which gut microbiota is involved in regulating bone metabolism, and further discuss the potential effects of hypoxia/hypothermia on gut microbiota in regulating bone metabolism. This review summarizes that gut microbiota was mainly involved in the regulation of bone metabolism through immune, hormone and metabolite levels, while hypothermia/hypoxia affected bone metabolism mainly through the effects of microbial immune response and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) secretion. In addition, our interpretation of Tibetan dietary patterns reveals a new potential complementary therapy for osteoporosis intervention. Although the initial results are exciting, more trials are needed to understand the interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and bone metabolism.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00994-0Plateau environmentOsteoporosisGut microbiotaHypothermiaHypoxiaTibetan diet
spellingShingle Yajun Qiao
Huimin Zheng
Ruiying Cheng
Lin Rong
Juan Guo
Guoqiang Li
Lixin Wei
Tingting Gao
Zhongshu Shan
Hongtao Bi
A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Plateau environment
Osteoporosis
Gut microbiota
Hypothermia
Hypoxia
Tibetan diet
title A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments
title_full A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments
title_fullStr A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments
title_full_unstemmed A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments
title_short A review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments
title_sort review of the relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporosis in high altitude environments
topic Plateau environment
Osteoporosis
Gut microbiota
Hypothermia
Hypoxia
Tibetan diet
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00994-0
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