Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adults
Abstract Accumulating evidence has linked gut microbiota to bone health. However, investigations into the impacts of aging, gut microbiota, and their interactions in the development of osteoporosis remain inconclusive. We employed quantitative computed tomography to measure lumbar bone mass density...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | npj Metabolic Health and Disease |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00060-7 |
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| author | Yufeng Li Zhun Shi Xiuying Zhang Huahui Ren Hongyi Ji Fangming Yang Zuodi Fu Xiangshuang Kong Xiaoguang Cheng Junhua Li Kui Wu Yiyi Zhong Huanzi Zhong Linong Ji |
| author_facet | Yufeng Li Zhun Shi Xiuying Zhang Huahui Ren Hongyi Ji Fangming Yang Zuodi Fu Xiangshuang Kong Xiaoguang Cheng Junhua Li Kui Wu Yiyi Zhong Huanzi Zhong Linong Ji |
| author_sort | Yufeng Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Accumulating evidence has linked gut microbiota to bone health. However, investigations into the impacts of aging, gut microbiota, and their interactions in the development of osteoporosis remain inconclusive. We employed quantitative computed tomography to measure lumbar bone mass density (BMD) and analyzed shotgun metagenomic data in 684 Chinese adults. Our analyses revealed significant positive associations between BMD and abundances of multiple Lachnospiraceae species, including Lachnospira eligens, Blautia wexlerae, and Roseburia hominis, as well as pathways involved in L-arginine biosynthesis and butyrate production—independent of age, diet habits, and lifestyles. Moreover, we demonstrated that individuals with enterotype Bacteroides exhibited a more pronounced age-related decline in BMD compared to those with enterotype Prevotella, a pattern we validated in an independent cohort. Our findings offer valuable insights into BMD-related gut microbial features and interactions between aging, gut microbiota, and bone loss, opening potential avenues for microbiota-based prevention and treatment strategies for osteoporosis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-090cbfa960924f86a7b63a4983ecd749 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2948-2828 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Metabolic Health and Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-090cbfa960924f86a7b63a4983ecd7492025-08-20T02:55:25ZengNature Portfolionpj Metabolic Health and Disease2948-28282025-05-01311910.1038/s44324-025-00060-7Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adultsYufeng Li0Zhun Shi1Xiuying Zhang2Huahui Ren3Hongyi Ji4Fangming Yang5Zuodi Fu6Xiangshuang Kong7Xiaoguang Cheng8Junhua Li9Kui Wu10Yiyi Zhong11Huanzi Zhong12Linong Ji13Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Friendship Hospital Pinggu Campus, Capital Medical UniversityBGI GenomicsDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Diabetes CentreBGI GenomicsBGI ResearchBGI GenomicsDepartment of Endocrinology, Beijing Friendship Hospital Pinggu Campus, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Endocrinology, Beijing Friendship Hospital Pinggu Campus, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of radiology, Beijing Jishuitan hospital, Capital Medical University, 31 Xinjiekou dongjie, xichengquBGI ResearchBGI GenomicsBGI GenomicsBGI GenomicsDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Diabetes CentreAbstract Accumulating evidence has linked gut microbiota to bone health. However, investigations into the impacts of aging, gut microbiota, and their interactions in the development of osteoporosis remain inconclusive. We employed quantitative computed tomography to measure lumbar bone mass density (BMD) and analyzed shotgun metagenomic data in 684 Chinese adults. Our analyses revealed significant positive associations between BMD and abundances of multiple Lachnospiraceae species, including Lachnospira eligens, Blautia wexlerae, and Roseburia hominis, as well as pathways involved in L-arginine biosynthesis and butyrate production—independent of age, diet habits, and lifestyles. Moreover, we demonstrated that individuals with enterotype Bacteroides exhibited a more pronounced age-related decline in BMD compared to those with enterotype Prevotella, a pattern we validated in an independent cohort. Our findings offer valuable insights into BMD-related gut microbial features and interactions between aging, gut microbiota, and bone loss, opening potential avenues for microbiota-based prevention and treatment strategies for osteoporosis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00060-7 |
| spellingShingle | Yufeng Li Zhun Shi Xiuying Zhang Huahui Ren Hongyi Ji Fangming Yang Zuodi Fu Xiangshuang Kong Xiaoguang Cheng Junhua Li Kui Wu Yiyi Zhong Huanzi Zhong Linong Ji Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adults npj Metabolic Health and Disease |
| title | Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adults |
| title_full | Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adults |
| title_fullStr | Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adults |
| title_short | Metagenomic analysis revealing links between age, gut microbiota and bone loss in Chinese adults |
| title_sort | metagenomic analysis revealing links between age gut microbiota and bone loss in chinese adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00060-7 |
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