Postmenopausal osteoporosis affects approximately 27% of women aged 65 and older, presenting a significant health challenge. During menopause, declining estrogen levels cause bone loss as bone resorption outpaces formation. While medications exist for treating osteoporosis, concerns about potential side effects have increased interest in safe and effective dietary alternatives.
Why Study Blackcurrants for Menopausal Bone Health?
Researchers at the University of Connecticut wanted to understand how blackcurrant (BC) anthocyanins might protect against menopausal bone loss. Previous studies had shown that blackcurrants contain potent anthocyanins with antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties, but the mechanisms by which they influence bone health weren’t fully understood.
How Blackcurrant Anthocyanins Were Tested in a Human Trial
Arome Science Inc. partnered with this research team to provide specialized metabolomic analysis for a six-month randomized controlled trial. The study examined 37 peri- and early postmenopausal women (aged 45-60) who were randomly assigned to one of three groups:
- Control group (placebo capsule daily)
- Low BC group (392 mg BC daily, containing 176 mg anthocyanins)
- High BC group (784 mg BC daily, containing 352 mg anthocyanins)
Arome Science performed targeted metabolomics analysis to:
- Measure microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in fecal samples
- Quantify phytoestrogen metabolites (enterodiol and enterolactone)
- Determine the relationship between these metabolites and bone health markers
Learn more about our Targeted Metabolomics Service used in this study
Metabolomic Analysis Using GC-MS: Tracking SCFAs in Response to Blackcurrant Intake
Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Arome Science analyzed fecal samples collected at baseline and after six months. The team quantified eight different SCFAs: acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, and heptanoic acid.
This allowed researchers to see how blackcurrant supplementation influenced the gut microbiome’s metabolic output.
Key Metabolomic Findings on SCFAs and Bone Density
The metabolomic analysis revealed several significant findings:
- Increased beneficial SCCAs: After six months, the high BC group showed significantly higher levels of isobutyric acid compared to the control group, and higher butyric acid levels compared to the low BC group. These acids have been associated with inhibiting bone resorption.
- Correlations with bone health: Changes in caproic and isobutyric acids showed positive correlations with whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) changes. This suggests these metabolites may play a role in BC’s bone-protective effects.
- Phytoestrogen relationships: The study found that enterodiol was positively correlated with bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (a bone formation marker), while enterolactone was positively correlated with osteocalcin and negatively correlated with sclerostin (a protein that inhibits bone formation).
How Blackcurrant Anthocyanins May Protect Bone Health via the Gut-Bone Axis
This research represents an important step in understanding how dietary components like blackcurrant anthocyanins may help protect bone health during menopause. The metabolomic analysis performed by Arome Science was crucial in uncovering the potential mechanisms, revealing that:
- Blackcurrant supplementation appears to beneficially modify gut microbiome activity
- The resulting changes in microbial metabolites correlate with improved bone health markers
- These effects may help reduce the risk of postmenopausal bone loss through the gut-bone axis
Conclusion
Through advanced metabolomic techniques, Arome Science helped researchers gain valuable insights into how blackcurrant anthocyanins might protect bone health.
This study suggests that blackcurrant may be a promising dietary approach to attenuate postmenopausal bone loss by modulating microbially-derived metabolites.
The research highlights the power of metabolomics to uncover the complex interactions between dietary compounds, the gut microbiome, and human health. Such insights are essential for developing evidence-based nutritional strategies to address important health challenges like osteoporosis.
