This month's bulletin begins with promising news for those suffering with lower back pain. An intriguing study reveals how regular walking can offer significant relief.

Next, we will explore a study that investigates how a compound commonly found in toothpaste can enhance the outcomes of fracture repair surgery.

Finally, a recent study has identified a gene that regulates the lifespan of osteoblasts, the cells that build bone.

You'll learn about each new set of discoveries and what they mean for the future of bone health.

Overcoming Back Pain Could Be A Walk In The Park

Australian researchers published a new study in the journal The Lancet demonstrating the ability of a regular routine of walking to reduce the incidence of lower back pain.

The study involved 700 adult participants who had recently recovered from an episode of non-specific low back pain. The researchers divided them into two groups: one that received an individualized six-month walking and education program guided by a physiotherapist, while the control group received no treatment or guidance.

The researchers followed up with the participants for a period of one to three years to gauge the incidence of lower back pain in each group.

Relevant Excerpt

“The impact of this straightforward intervention was striking. Compared to the control group, participants in the walking program experienced a significantly lower risk of suffering a recurrence of low back pain that limited daily activities. Overall, the risk fell by 28%.

Even more impressive, the average time for a recurrence to strike was nearly double for those in the walking group (208 days) versus the control group (112 days). The results for any recurrence of low back pain, regardless of impact on activities and recurrences requiring medical care, showed similarly promising reductions in risk. Simply put, people engaging in the walking program stayed pain-free for nearly twice as long as others not treating their lower back pain.”¹

Participants received guidance from a physiotherapist who collaborated with each individual to create a customized walking plan. Each plan started with a manageable amount of walking and aimed to reach a goal of walking 30 minutes per day, five days per week by the end of the six months.

Back pain can disrupt daily activities, including essential physical exercise that are essential to building strong bones. Walking is also a bone-building activity. Incorporating a daily walk into your routine has benefits regardless of whether you experience back pain, but if you do, this finding could provide essential relief.

Synopsis

Australian researchers found that study participants with back pain who received guidance developing a 30 minutes per day, five-days-a-week walking routine over six months stayed pain-free longer than participants who didn't do the walking program.

Hydroxyapatite Injection Studied For Fracture Recovery

Researchers have published a study about a new method for repairing fragility fractures in people with low bone density.

The study included participants who had a fragility fracture that required the surgical application of screws and metal plates. This hardware can be less effective in bones with reduced density, sometimes requiring additional surgeries for proper healing.

These researchers sought a method of reducing the need for additional fracture-repair surgeries in people with low bone density. Their study tested the efficacy of a compound found in tooth enamel and bone and commonly added to toothpaste for its remineralizing effect: hydroxyapatite.

Relevant Excerpt

“In the new study, hydroxyapatite was injected into the bone surrounding the fracture after it had been repaired with screws and plates. The hydroxyapatite solidified in minutes to reinforce the repair.

Seven to 14 days later, patients received an intravenous infusion of bisphosphonate acid, a drug that is used in tablet form to slow the rate that bone is broken down. The combination of bisphosphonate and hydroxyapatite triggered the growth of new bone cells to strengthen the repair, reported the journal Acta Biomaterialia.”²

This intervention reduced the likelihood that participants would require follow-up surgeries to ensure proper fracture healing.

This application of bisphosphonates is more targeted than its typical use. However, bisphosphonates still carry risks of side effects, including atypical femur fractures and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The best way to address a fracture is by preventing it. The Osteoporosis Reversal Program is revolutionary because it aims not only to enhance bone health but also to holistically reduce the risk of falls and fractures.

Synopsis

In a study with participants with low bone density who suffered a fracture requiring metal screws and plates, researchers found that injecting the bone with the compound hydroxyapatite and applying an intravenous infusion of bisphosphonates reduced the chance that participants would require additional surgeries to repair their fracture.

Gene Linked To Osteoporosis

Japanese researchers have identified a gene called Men1, which is linked to the development of osteoporosis.

The researchers conducted a study with mice to explore the relationship between the Men1 gene and cellular senescence in osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are the cells responsible for adding new material to bones. Senescence is the process of age-related cellular death.

Relevant Excerpt

“A gene called Men1 is linked to a genetic condition known as MEN1, causing benign tumors and associated with both cellular senescence and the development of osteoporosis early in life. The team investigated the role of Men1 in age-related osteoporosis and found that elderly mice showed both reduced levels of Men1 and increased activity of senescence-related genes in osteoblasts.

They then generated a mouse model where Men1 could be inactivated specifically in osteoblasts. The bones of these mice resembled the fragile bones seen in elderly humans.”³

When the Men1 gene was inactivated, osteoblasts underwent accelerated senescence. Fewer osteoblasts results in less bone formation, which contributes to bone loss and osteoporosis.

The researchers also tested the use of a drug called metformin, a medicine typically used to tret type 2 diabetes. In the laboratory, metformin was able to suppress senescence in osteoblast cells. The drug partially restored the bone structure in Men1-deficient mice and the researchers suggested the possibility of developing drugs that target cellular senescence to treat osteoporosis.

Gaining knowledge about the genetic pathways that regulate healthy bone formation is valuable. We are increasingly aware of the ways in which our natural behaviors influence gene function, allowing us to influence these genetic pathways to work in our favor.

However, the development of drugs that artificially interfere with genetic activation will pose currently unknown risks.

Synopsis

Japanese researchers have discovered that the gene Men1 regulates senescence (age-related cell death) in osteoblasts (bone-building cells). In their study with mice, they found that the drug metformin suppressed senescence in osteoblast cells and they suggested it as a future osteoporosis drug.

What This Means To You

As the first study in this bulletin shows, there are simple, natural interventions that can deliver profound results to improve health and quality of life. When we take proactive measures to strengthen our bodies and bones, we're better equipped to stay healthy and tackle whatever life throws at us.

The Osteoprosis Reversal Program offers a holistic approach to both preventing and reversing osteoporosis. It considers every facet of your life that impacts your bones, and provides a guide to making simple changes that yield big results.

Keep learning how your choices affect your bone health, and your future will be brighter with every positive decision you make.

References

¹ https://studyfinds.org/back-pain-just-take-a-walk/

² https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13588473/The-new-toothpaste-jab-able-rebuild-crumbling-bones.html

³ https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-gene-linked-osteoporosis.html