The role of short-chain fatty acids in regulating bone metabolism and the mechanism: a review

Abstract:

The disturbance of gut microbiota contributes to pathological bone loss in the host, as the metabolites of it diffuse from the gut to the systemic circulation to regulate bone metabolism. Among the metabolites of gut bacteria, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) attract the most attention. Recent studies have shown that SCFAs play an important part in the prevention and treatment of bone metabolism-related diseases. This review focused on the role of SCFAs in the skeletal system, the mechanism of regulating cells in bone tissue, and the functions in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and summarized the future research directions.