Bone resorption is decreased postprandially by intestinal factors and glucagon-like peptide-2 is a possible candidate.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Food intake inhibits bone resorption by a mechanism thought to involve gut hormones, and the intestinotrophic glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is a candidate because exogenous GLP-2 inhibits bone resorption in humans. The purpose of the study was to investigate patients with short-bowel syndrome (SBS) or total gastrectomy in order to elucidate whether the signal for the meal-induced reduction of bone resorption is initiated from the stomach or the intestine.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Bone resorption was assessed from the serum concentration of collagen type I C-telopeptide cross-links (s-CTX) and compared with the plasma concentrations of GLP-2. Bone formation was assessed from serum osteocalcin concentrations. Seven SBS patients with a preserved colon and 7 with SBS and colectomy and 7 healthy controls were given a breakfast test meal (936 kcal). Eight patients who had undergone total gastrectomy had an oral glucose load (75 g in 150 ml).

RESULTS:

The SBS patients without a colon showed no reduction in bone resorption (s-CTX) to a meal, whereas SBS patients with a colon had an intermediate response with a 27% (p<0.05) reduction of s-CTX from baseline after 120 min as compared with 66% (p<0.001) for normal controls. A significant reduction of 53% (p<0.001) was seen in gastrectomized patients after receiving oral glucose, which is comparable with the published data for the oral glucose tolerance test (OGGT) in healthy subjects (50% reduction over 120 min). Bone formation was unchanged for both SBS and gastrectomy patients. GLP-2 concentrations increased significantly in all groups with the exception of the SBS plus colectomy group.

CONCLUSIONS:

An intestinal factor is responsible for the postprandial reduction in bone resorption, and our findings are compatible with such a function for GLP-2.

• Authors: Jens J Holst, Bolette Hartmann, Ida B Gottschalck, Palle B Jeppesen, Johannes Miholic, Dennis Bang Henriksen
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology (Scand J Gastroenterol) Vol. 42 Issue 7 Pg. 814-20 (Jul 2007) ISSN: 0036-5521 [Print] England
• PMID: 17558904 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Collagen Type I
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
• Peptides
• collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide
• Osteocalcin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Bone Resorption (physiopathology)
• Colectomy
• Collagen Type I (blood)
• Gastrectomy
• Gastrointestinal Tract (physiology)
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 (blood, physiology)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Osteocalcin (blood)
• Osteogenesis (physiology)
• Peptides (blood)
• Postprandial Period (physiology)
• Short Bowel Syndrome (physiopathology)