Gut bacteria and osteoporosis risk: what gut microbes may mean for your bone health
Official title: Studying Human Gut Microbiome for Osteoporosis Risk
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11365793 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will look at how gut bacteria relate to bone density and fracture risk, with the goal of better understanding who is at risk and how to protect bones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $407,482 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG055373-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365793 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults at risk for osteoporosis or with low bone density who are willing to provide stool samples and bone-health data.
✕Less likely to help
People without osteoporosis risk factors or without an interest in contributing biological samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will explore the link between the gut microbiome and osteoporosis in humans by analyzing gut bacteria and their functions in a large group of participants. Researchers will combine detailed microbiome sequencing with bone health measurements to identify microbial signatures that correlate with low bone density and fractures. They will use computational analyses and laboratory experiments to test how certain bacteria might influence bone-forming cells and bone-breaking cells. The aim is to uncover mechanisms and potential targets that could lead to new ways to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new microbiome-based strategies to reduce osteoporosis risk and fractures.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked gut microbiome diversity to bone health but have been small; this project aims to provide more definitive, scalable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shen, Hui — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Shen, Hui
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.