Periodontitis may accelerate bone loss in osteoporosis patients

Researchers from Griffith University and Nanjing University have identified a biological mechanism linking chronic periodontitis to increased bone loss in individuals with osteoporosis. The study suggests that oral inflammation can impact the entire body by altering the gut microbiota.

According to Professor Yin Xiao of Griffith University, periodontitis does more than disrupt the oral microbiome; it also affects the gastrointestinal microbiome, compromising intestinal barrier integrity and increasing systemic inflammation. This connection is significant because gut microorganisms play a role in regulating bone metabolism, including calcium absorption and the hormonal factors involved in bone formation and resorption.