In this month's bulletin, you'll get the latest updates in the field of bone health.

First, you'll get the most recent news on research revealing how newly discovered proteins help regulate the creation of bone-resorbing osteoclast cells.

Then, we'll review a study that linked aerobic exercise to reduced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. You'll learn why that's great news for Savers.

Finally, the FDA has approved a new device that claims to help reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. We'll look at the details and potential drawbacks of this prescription product.

Study Reveals New Details Of Osteoclast Regulation

Japanese scientists have discovered a new facet of osteoclast regulation through an in vitro study of cellular bone material from mice.

Osteoclasts are the cells responsible for resorbing old or damaged bone, an essential part of the bone remodeling process.

This study isolated a protein called Cpeb4 that plays a role in splicing mRNA, the genetic instructions that instructs cells on how to synthesize proteins.

Relevant Excerpt

“While the contribution of Cpeb4 is smaller than that of RANKL, a signaling factor that induces osteoclast differentiation, targeting Cpeb4 may have the advantage of reducing the side effects of existing drugs as excessive inhibition of osteoclast differentiation with RANKL inhibitory antibodies would halt bone remodeling.

Importantly, the results contribute to a more detailed understanding of how bones are maintained.”¹

This study provides fascinating new insights into how osteoclast production is regulated. The researchers noted that Cpeb4 may even be useful as a diagnostic tool in the future.

However, the foremost intention of the research is drug development. While Cpeb4 function hasn't been observed inside the bodies of mice, much less in humans, it may eventually lead to yet another osteoporosis drug.

Synopsis

Researchers discovered that a protein called Cpeb4 plays a role in the regulation of osteoclasts via RNA splicing. This new understanding could become a diagnostic tool, but more likely will be pursued as the target of new osteoporosis drugs.

Aerobic Exercise Offers Liver Protection

Researchers in Barcelona are helping to explain how and why aerobic exercise helps prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

This form of liver disease occurs when fat cells build up in the liver. It affects nearly a quarter of the world's population.

In studies with animals, researchers linked aerobic exercise to a reduction in NAFLD. They observed the relationship between the exercise and compounds called lipid droplets.

Relevant Excerpt

“One of the key features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the large concentration of lipid droplets (LD) that build up within the liver cells.

“Our findings reveal that aerobic exercise, that is, moderate physical activity over time, helps metabolize the fats because it reduces the size of lipid droplets, and therefore, the severity of the disease,” notes Professor María Isabel Heràndez-Alvarez, from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona”²

The study authors contend that the effects observed in animals would carry over into humans. That makes regular moderate-intensity exercise an effective way to protect the health of your liver.

Liver health is especially important to Savers because the liver is part of the body's toxin-filtration system. Reduced liver function results in higher levels of acidifying toxins throughout the body, leading to bone loss.

Synopsis

Research has found that aerobic exercise reduces the size of lipid droplets in the liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by these droplets, and as they reduce, so does the severity of the disease. A healthy liver is essential for filtering bone-damaging toxins.

FDA Approves Vibrating Belt Intended To Slow Bone Loss

The FDA has approved a new medical device that aims to slow bone loss in post-menopausal women. The device is a belt with a vibrator pack on the back, intended for use three times a week.

The approval was granted based on a National Institutes of Health funded double-blinded, sham-controlled study of 126 women with low bone density. The participants were divided into two groups, one of which used the vibrating device three times a week and a second group who were given sham devices that made sound but did not vibrate.

The primary outcome measurement was a change in vertebral strength, measured by CT scans. The researchers measured both compressive strength and volumetric density of the first lumbar vertebra.

Relevant Excerpt

“In the active-belt group, women lost, on average, 0.48% bone strength, while those in the sham group lost nearly 2.84% (P = .014), about five times as much. Results also showed that participants in the active treatment group who used the device three times per week lost 0.29% bone mineral density (BMD) compared with the 1.97% BMD lost in the control group. No adverse events were reported in the study.”³

New non-pharmaceutical interventions for bone loss are a refreshing development. However, as these results attest, this device is not on its own capable of eliminating or reversing bone loss. The researchers noted that it may be a useful addition to other interventions, such as weight-bearing exercise, supplements, and changes to diet.

Although the study did show positive results for vertebral strength, it did not assess whether the device actually reduced the risk of fracture. It's also worth noting that the mechanism of action of the device is unclear, and the researchers are not sure how long the device must be used to achieve maximum impact.

With so many unknowns, and such limited results, this new device shouldn't be viewed as a replacement of bone-building behaviors with tried and true bone health benefits.

Synopsis

The FDA has approved a vibrating belt intended to reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. In a double-blinded sham-controlled study, women who used the belt three times a week lost less bone mass than those who used a sham belt. While a new non-pharmaceutical intervention for bone loss is welcome, many questions about this device remain, including whether it actually reduces the risk of fracture.

What This Means To You

Exercise remains a powerful tool, not just for building bone, but for supporting organs like the liver that are essential to maintaining bone health. Don't let new drugs in development or new devices on the market distract you from the bone-healthy habits you're practicing.

The Osteoporosis Reversal Program is based on decades of study results, ensuring that these strategies have the power to make real improvements to your bone health and well-being. With simple protocols for diet, exercise,natural supplements, and more, the Osteoporosis Reversal Program works on multiple levels to help you transform your life and the health of your bones.

References

¹ https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/japanese-scientists-tested-proteins-to-unlock-the-secrets-of-osteoporosis/#

² https://studyfinds.org/aerobic-exercise-liver-disease/

³ https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/fda-approves-vibrating-belt-help-women-osteopenia-keep-bone-2024a10001u2?form=fpf