Plant-based probiotic/prebiotic to help keep bones strong with age
Official title: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of a probiotic/prebiotic supplement for the dietary management of age-related bone loss.
Funded at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged · NIH-11311271 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A plant-derived probiotic/prebiotic supplement is given to older women to see if it helps preserve or improve bone strength and bone density.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $612,536 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079952-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311271 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women aged 60 or older with age-related bone loss or osteopenia who can attend clinic visits and agree to scans and blood/stool sample collection.
✕Less likely to help
People under 60, men, or those with advanced osteoporosis already on prescription bone drugs may not be eligible or may not benefit from this supplement-focused approach.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to take either the synbiotic supplement (called SBD111) or a placebo for about 18 months without knowing which one you receive. The study focuses on women over 60 and includes bone density scans (DXA and quantitative CT), blood and stool tests for bone turnover and inflammation, and analysis of the gut microbiome. Staff will collect data at scheduled clinic visits to measure changes in bone strength, volumetric bone mineral density, and biochemical markers. The goal is to understand both whether the supplement helps bones and how it might work through the gut and inflammation pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a safe, affordable dietary supplement option to slow age-related bone loss and lower fracture risk.
How similar studies have gone: Early animal studies and small human trials suggest probiotics and prebiotics can support bone health, but large, long placebo-controlled trials in older adults are still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sahni, Shivani — Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
- Study coordinator: Sahni, Shivani
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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.