Description
In this presentation, Aouod Agenor discusses the promising implications of microbiome modulation on fracture healing, particularly through the use of probiotic supplementation. He outlines the connection between gut microbiome health and bone metabolism, mentioning that while prior studies have explored this relationship, the potential of probiotics to directly improve fracture healing had not yet been investigated.
The study aims to assess the role of probiotic administration on fracture healing using a preclinical mouse model, divided into two parts: one in which probiotics were administered before a fracture and one afterwards. Key outcome measurements included gene expression related to bone healing and biomechanical properties of the bone.
Results indicated that pre-treatment with probiotics led to significant increases in inflammatory markers and bone density, ultimately improving bone biomechanical properties. Specifically, the probiotic group exhibited higher maximum torque to failure and strain energy, suggesting that the bone was tougher and could absorb more energy before failing.
Conversely, post-fracture probiotic administration did not show the same level of effectiveness in early inflammatory responses, potentially due to the timing of administration. However, analysis of the fracture callus at 28 days revealed improved biomechanical properties, indicating that probiotics may still play a beneficial role during later stages of bone healing.
Agenor concludes by emphasizing that fracture healing presents significant challenges, particularly among the elderly. He suggests that probiotics could serve as a low-cost and safe adjunct therapy to enhance bone strength and reduce the burden of osteoporotic fractures, urging future research to explore these interventions in both preclinical and clinical settings.