Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotic for Bone Health

Abstract

Prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics has been shown to enhance calcium absorption, gut and bone health. Probiotics are also known to ferment prebiotics to produce the fermentative substrates such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), mainly acetate, butyrate and propionate with the help of beneficial micro-organisms in the gut. The expression of these SCFAs has been associated with the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we discuss the benefits of SCFAs and ways in which prebiotics and probiotics affect bone health by the reduction of inflammation in the gut and the bone.