Impact of Gut Microbiota on Bone Metabolism—Present Concepts and Therapeutic Implications

The gut microbiota plays a multifaceted role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism -acting through metabolic, immunological, and hormonal pathways that collectively constitute the gut-bone axis. The microbiota influences calcium bioavailability through several overlapping mechanisms that act in the intestine. Moreover, microbial fermentation products may directly impact the osteoblast-osteoclast interplay and, by modulating immune and endocrine functions, are crucial for bone metabolism. A healthy microbiota supports bone formation; however, intestinal dysbiosis may impair bone structure and function. This narrative review aims to present pathways linking the gut microbiota to bone metabolism, both in health and disease. First, we will discuss the influence of gut microbiota on calcium absorption. We will then outline the role that microbial metabolites, such as bile acids and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), play in regulating bone structure and function. In the following section, we will discuss the role of the microbiota in the immunological and hormonal modulation of bone metabolism. Finally, we will discuss how dysbiosis affects bone and how therapeutic interventions, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, may influence bone tissue quality.