The Gut-Bone Axis in Diabetes

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

Purpose of Review: To describe recent advances in the understanding of how gut-derived hormones regulate bone homeostasis in humans with emphasis on pathophysiological and therapeutic perspectives in diabetes. Recent Findings: The gut-derived incretin hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is important for postprandial suppression of bone resorption. The other incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), as well as the intestinotrophic glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) has been shown to suppress bone resorption in pharmacological concentrations, but the role of the endogenous hormones in bone homeostasis is uncertain. For ambiguous reasons, both patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have increased fracture risk. In diabetes, the suppressive effect of endogenous GIP on bone resorption seems preserved, while the effect of GLP-2 remains unexplored both pharmacologically and physiologically. GLP-1 receptor agonists, used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, may reduce bone loss, but results are inconsistent. Summary: GIP is an important physiological suppressor of postprandial bone resorption, while GLP-1 and GLP-2 may also exert bone-preserving effects when used pharmacologically. A better understanding of the actions of these gut hormones on bone homeostasis in patients with diabetes may lead to new strategies for the prevention and treatment of skeletal frailty related to diabetes.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCurrent Osteoporosis Reports
Volume21
Pages (from-to)21–31
Number of pages11
ISSN1544-1873
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

    Research areas

  • Bone, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), Diabetes, Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP)

ID: 328694570