Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (457 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Reduction of bone mass without alteration in the composition of bone, leading to fractures. Primary osteoporosis can be of two major types: postmenopausal osteoporosis (osteoporosis, postmenopausal) and age-related or senile osteoporosis.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Osteoporoses; Osteoporosis, Age-Related; Osteoporosis, Age Related; Age-Related Osteoporosis; Age-Related Osteoporoses; Age Related Osteoporosis; Osteoporoses, Age-Related; Bone Loss, Age-Related.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Bone Diseases, Metabolic
- Narrower topics
- Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
Related concepts
- Osteoporosis
- Postmenopausal
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 70,967 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Osteoporosis” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 15,195 of them (21.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 19,864 records.
Reviews account for 16,713 records (23.6%) and meta-analyses for 1,181. Randomized controlled trials number 3,238 (4.6%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 16,946 |
| 2000-2009 | 18,962 |
| 2010-2019 | 19,864 |
| 2020 onward | 15,195 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 16,713 | 23.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,181 | 1.7% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 3,238 | 4.6% |
Method: PubMed query "Osteoporosis"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in metabolism and endocrine disease
Studies of diabetes, obesity and hormone disorders often follow blood tests such as glucose, HbA1c or hormone levels, which are stand-ins for outcomes that matter more, such as complications. Lifestyle and diet research is largely observational, and weight and diabetes trials can differ in how long people were followed. Nothing on this page is advice about medicines, insulin or diet; talk to a qualified clinician about your own situation. Check whether the outcome was a lab value or a clinical event, and the type and duration of the condition studied.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The gut-bone axis: impact of diet on gut microbiome and osteoporosis | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 42243088 · DOI · PMC13237057 |
| Gut microbiota orchestrates bone homeostasis: a multi-pathway network from intestine to skeleton | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 42137352 · DOI · PMC13171206 |
| A RANKL+/CXCR4+ B cell population accumulates in bone marrow and causes age-related osteoporosis in mice | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42151112 · DOI · PMC13183972 |
The gut-bone axis: impact of diet on gut microbiome and osteoporosis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Osteoporosis, a global health challenge characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk, is closely linked to interactions between dietary patterns and gut microbiota (GM).
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of dietary interventions targeting GM modulation as a novel therapeutic approach, advocating for personalized nutritional strategies to improve skeletal health in high-risk populations.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (118 words)
Osteoporosis, a global health challenge characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk, is closely linked to interactions between dietary patterns and gut microbiota (GM). Recent advances in GM research highlight the gut-bone axis as a pivotal focus in osteoporosis studies, revealing that variations in dietary habits and nutrient intake differentially modulate GM composition and metabolic activity, thereby influencing skeletal health. This review synthesizes current evidence on the interplay between dietary practices, GM, and bone health, aiming to identify preventive and therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis management. Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of dietary interventions targeting GM modulation as a novel therapeutic approach, advocating for personalized nutritional strategies to improve skeletal health in high-risk populations.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42243088 · DOI · PMC13237057
Gut microbiota orchestrates bone homeostasis: a multi-pathway network from intestine to skeleton [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Osteoporosis (OP), a widespread metabolic bone condition characterized by diminished bone mass and compromised microarchitecture, poses a significant global health challenge.
- Closing excerpt
- This review evaluates the therapeutic potential of GM-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, and underscores the GM as a pivotal therapeutic target, emphasizing that future therapeutic strategies for OP must incorporate the interconnected GM-bone axis for efficacious prevention and treatment.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (147 words)
Osteoporosis (OP), a widespread metabolic bone condition characterized by diminished bone mass and compromised microarchitecture, poses a significant global health challenge. The gut microbiota (GM) regulates bone homeostasis through the "gut-bone axis," and this review consolidates its diverse mechanisms. GM-derived metabolites directly/indirectly modulate osteoclast/osteoblast activity. GM also regulates systemic immunity to influence the RANKL/OPG pathway and mediates endocrine signals. Furthermore, it modulates intestinal barrier integrity to facilitate mineral/vitamin absorption and interacts with the nervous system to form the "microbiota-gut-brain-bone" axis. GM imbalance, resulting from factors such as aging, hormonal shifts, or dietary habits, promotes the progression of OP through the perturbation of these networks. This review evaluates the therapeutic potential of GM-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, and underscores the GM as a pivotal therapeutic target, emphasizing that future therapeutic strategies for OP must incorporate the interconnected GM-bone axis for efficacious prevention and treatment.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42137352 · DOI · PMC13171206
A RANKL+/CXCR4+ B cell population accumulates in bone marrow and causes age-related osteoporosis in mice [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- RANKL induces bone loss in part by promoting degradation of TRAF3, levels of which decrease in murine and human bone during aging, but the major cellular sources of RANKL in bone marrow (BM) during aging are unknown.
- Closing excerpt
- Reduction of RCB numbers in BM could treat/prevent osteoporosis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (192 words)
RANKL induces bone loss in part by promoting degradation of TRAF3, levels of which decrease in murine and human bone during aging, but the major cellular sources of RANKL in bone marrow (BM) during aging are unknown. Here, we identify RANKL+CXCR4+ B cells (RCBs) as a novel major source of RANKL in murine bone. Their numbers are increased in BM of aged WT male mice and adult mice with TRAF3 conditionally deleted in mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs), associated with increased expression in BM of the chemokine, CXCL12, indicating that TRAF3 in MPCs limits RCB numbers in BM of young mice. During aging, TGFβ1-induced TRAF3 degradation in MPCs promotes NF-κB-mediated expression of CXCL12, associated with higher numbers of RCBs in BM where they induce bone resorption. In addition, RCBs from aged mice caused bone loss in young NSG mice and, in an ovariectomized mouse model, accelerated osteoclastic bone resorption coupled with TRAF3 reduction and RCB accumulation in BM. Consistent with these findings, administration of the FDA-approved CXCR4 antagonist, plerixafor, reduced RCB numbers in BM and increased bone mass in naturally aged and ovariectomized mice. Reduction of RCB numbers in BM could treat/prevent osteoporosis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42151112 · DOI · PMC13183972
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The global prevalence of osteoporosis in the world: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Global, regional prevalence, and risk factors of osteoporosis according to the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Global prevalence of osteoporosis among the world older adults: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Effectiveness and Safety of Treatments to Prevent Fractures in People With Low Bone Mass or Primary Osteoporosis: A Living Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis for the American College of Physicians [7]
- Research article Evidence on physical activity and osteoporosis prevention for people aged 65+ years: a systematic review to inform the WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour [8]
- Research article Fracture risk reduction and safety by osteoporosis treatment compared with placebo or active comparator in postmenopausal women: systematic review, network meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis of randomised clinical trials [9]
Full-text reviews on EvidenceLib
Open-access review articles about this topic, reproduced in full with authors, licence and references.
Biochemical Markers of Musculoskeletal Health and Aging to be Assessed in Clinical Trials of Drugs Aiming at the Treatment of Sarcopenia: Consensus Paper from an Expert Group Meeting Organized by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the Centre Académique de Recherche et d'Expérimentation en Santé (CARES SPRL), Under the Auspices of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for the Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Conditions and Aging
Aurélie Ladang, Charlotte Beaudart, Jean-Yves Reginster et al. · Calcified Tissue International 2023 · CC BY 4.0
The global prevalence of osteoporosis in the world: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis
Nader Salari, Hooman Ghasemi, Loghman Mohammadi et al. · Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2021 · CC BY 4.0
Structural and Metabolic Changes in Bone
Agata Wawrzyniak, Krzysztof Balawender · Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI 2022 · CC BY 4.0
Moderate Consumption of Beer and Its Effects on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health: An Updated Review of Recent Scientific Evidence
Ascensión Marcos, Lluís Serra-Majem, Francisco Pérez-Jiménez et al. · Nutrients 2021 · CC BY 4.0
Molecular mechanosensors in osteocytes
Lei Qin, Wen Liu, Huiling Cao et al. · Bone Research 2020 · CC BY 4.0
References
- Wang Y, Xu M, Dong Q, Lin X, Zhang Q, Shi H, et al.. The gut-bone axis: impact of diet on gut microbiome and osteoporosis. . 2026. PMID 42243088 · DOI · PMC13237057
- Gong Y, Ma X, Wang L, Zhang P, Liu T, Li Y, et al.. Gut microbiota orchestrates bone homeostasis: a multi-pathway network from intestine to skeleton. . 2026. PMID 42137352 · DOI · PMC13171206
- Li J, Fan J, Yao Z, Jiao H, Duan R, Sanders JO, et al.. A RANKL+/CXCR4+ B cell population accumulates in bone marrow and causes age-related osteoporosis in mice. . 2026. PMID 42151112 · DOI · PMC13183972
- Salari N, Ghasemi H, Mohammadi L, Behzadi MH, Rabieenia E, Shohaimi S, et al.. The global prevalence of osteoporosis in the world: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2021. PMID 34657598 · DOI · PMC8522202
- Xiao PL, Cui AY, Hsu CJ, Peng R, Jiang N, Xu XH, et al.. Global, regional prevalence, and risk factors of osteoporosis according to the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2022. PMID 35687123 · DOI
- Salari N, Darvishi N, Bartina Y, Larti M, Kiaei A, Hemmati M, et al.. Global prevalence of osteoporosis among the world older adults: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2021. PMID 34774085 · DOI · PMC8590304
- Ayers C, Kansagara D, Lazur B, Fu R, Kwon A, Harrod C. Effectiveness and Safety of Treatments to Prevent Fractures in People With Low Bone Mass or Primary Osteoporosis: A Living Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis for the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2023. PMID 36592455 · DOI
- Pinheiro MB, Oliveira J, Bauman A, Fairhall N, Kwok W, Sherrington C. Evidence on physical activity and osteoporosis prevention for people aged 65+ years: a systematic review to inform the WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020. PMID 33239014 · DOI · PMC7690138
- Händel MN, Cardoso I, von Bülow C, Rohde JF, Ussing A, Nielsen SM, et al.. Fracture risk reduction and safety by osteoporosis treatment compared with placebo or active comparator in postmenopausal women: systematic review, network meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMJ. 2023. PMID 37130601 · DOI · PMC10152340
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.