Effects of daily probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus on calcium status, bone metabolism biomarkers, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a controlled and randomized clinical study

Background: Menopause poses significant health risks for women, particularly
an increased vulnerability to fractures associated with osteoporosis. Dietary
interventions have emerged as promising strategies, focusing on mitigating
the risk of osteoporosis rather than solely addressing the established disease.
This 12-week randomized controlled trial aimed to analyze the effects of
consuming Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotics on calcium levels, biomarkers of
bone metabolism, and bone mineral density (BMD) profiles in postmenopausal
women.
Methods: Fifty-five participants were randomly assigned to receive either a
placebo (n = 25) or the probiotic L. acidophilus UALa-01TM (n = 30) daily via
oral intervention. Throughout the study, evaluations included body composition,
blood biochemical parameters, serum calcium levels, and biomarkers of
bone metabolism. Additionally, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to
measure BMD profiles.
Results: The findings delineated that the probiotic group experienced a decrease
in serum calcium levels compared to their initial levels. However, hair calcium
levels and biomarkers related to bone metabolism showed no notable changes
within this group. Consumption of probiotic L. acidophilus also seemed to
prevent fluctuations in bone turnover markers. Moreover, there were no
significant alterations in BMD levels at the lumbar spine, left femur, and total
body in the probiotic group. Additionally, probiotic intake led to favorable
outcomes by significantly reducing both body fat and visceral fat during the
intervention period. Conversely, an adverse effect of consuming probiotic
L. acidophilus was observed with a significant increase in glucose concentration Conclusion: In conclusion, the consumption of L. acidophilus probiotics daily
for 12 weeks among postmenopausal women does not affect the profile of
BMD, but it may help in stabilizing bone turnover. It is important to note that
most measured parameters were within the normal range for this population.
However, it is worth noting that 3 months of probiotic supplementation could
potentially disrupt calcium and glucose status in postmenopausal women.