Study on Serotonin's link to Gut and Bones

[Guest guest]

From efluxmedia.com

Bone Formation Linked to Serotonin in Gut, Research Brings Hope for

Osteoporosis Sufferers

By Alice Carver

14:40, November 27th 2008 3 votes

Bone formation appears to be controlled by serotonin, a chemical in

the brain that also influences mood, appetite, sleep and metabolism.

The discovery may lead to a novel treatment of osteoporosis, a

disease that affects 10 million Americans older than 50.

In a paper published online Wednesday in the journal Cell, a team of

researchers led by Dr. Gerard Karsenty, chairman of the department of

genetics and development and the Columbia University College of

Physicians and Surgeons, reports the discovery of a surprising system

that appears to control bone formation. The research links serotonin

produced in the duodenum to the proliferation of osteoblasts, which

are cells that create new bone.

In osteoporosis, the bone mineral density is reduced, bone micro-

architecture is disrupted and variety of non-collagenous proteins in

bone is altered. It is most common in women after menopause (the so-

called postmenopausal osteoporosis) but may also develop in men. The

disease may significantly affect life expectancy and quality of life.

The scientists studied Lrp5, a gene that regulates bone formation,

which lead to the discovery of a correspondence between serotonin and

bone density. People with mutation of Lrp5 that cause the protein to

be less active suffer from bone-weakening osteoporosis. Those who

have mutations that increase the activity of Lrp5, have high bone

mass syndrome.

Scientists discovered that in mice the gene that regulates bone

formation controls serotonin production in the gut. The discovery

lead to the hypothesis of a connection among Lrp5, its associated

bone disease and serotonin produced in the gut.

Using transgenic mice, the researchers showed inactivating Lrp5

caused severe osteoporosis while overactivating Lrp5 led to higher

bone mass. The mechanism through which gut serotonin controls bone

formation is simple: serotonin made by the gut is released into the

blood, and the more serotonin that reaches bone, the more bone is

lost; the less serotonin, the denser and stronger bones become.

" The findings demonstrate without a doubt that serotonin from the gut

is acting as a hormone to regulate bone mass, " Dr. Karsenty said.

This is the first study to demonstrate the link between serotonin

from the gut and bone formation.

Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in serotonergic

neurons in the central nervous system and enterochromaffin cells in

the gastrointestinal tract of humans. In the brain, serotonin plays

an important role as a neurotransmitter in the modulation of anger,

aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, sexuality, appetite and

metabolism. 95 percent of the body's serotonin is produced by

duodenum, while the brain generates the other five percent.

Senior author Gerard Karsenty hopes to find a new drug that depresses

the gut's serotonin synthesis and stimulates bone growth in these

patients, the New York Times reported.

Other researchers, who were not involved in the study, were very

excited by this " groundbreaking " finding. Using the results of this

study as parting point, perhaps further valuable treatments will soon

be discovered.

© 2007 - 2008 - eFluxMedia

[Guest guest]

It's well known that Prozac and other SSRIs cause bone loss:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_23_39/ai_n8581182

For that reason, this line of research represents more possible

disaster capitalism. I'm pretty sure that the SSRI side effect of

bone loss is why the researchers even knew to search for bone density

effects and their relation to serotonin. Depending on who was funding

this study (or who funded the academic institution which did the

study), it could seem like a matter of drug companies trying to make

lemonade from lemons-- learn from the Mengele-type adverse events of

their own products and turn this knowledge into profits. The path of

discovery here isn't exactly being publicized.

Even if the researchers are naive about the " inspiration " for this

study, I'm always wary when one " brain chemical " (as this study

points out, " brain chemicals " are really all-over-body chemicals for

the most part) is pinpointed among the 100 or so closely interacting

chemicals that are scarcely understood because, again, it sounds like

pharmaceutical-funded drug research (is there any other kind?),

looking for magic pills to sell. The body just doesn't conform to

drug-marketing schemes, isn't that simple. Could be that by reducing

serotonin, they'll cause a host of other nasty side effects which can

then be studied and used to generate another scheme to treat the side

effects.

The bigger question is why are people having problems with bone

density? But looking for cause leads to prevention which cuts

profits.

>

> From efluxmedia.com

>

> Bone Formation Linked to Serotonin in Gut, Research Brings Hope for

> Osteoporosis Sufferers

> By Alice Carver

> 14:40, November 27th 2008 3 votes

>

> Bone formation appears to be controlled by serotonin, a chemical in

> the brain that also influences mood, appetite, sleep and

metabolism.

> The discovery may lead to a novel treatment of osteoporosis, a

> disease that affects 10 million Americans older than 50.

>

> In a paper published online Wednesday in the journal Cell, a team

of

> researchers led by Dr. Gerard Karsenty, chairman of the department

of

> genetics and development and the Columbia University College of

> Physicians and Surgeons, reports the discovery of a surprising

system

> that appears to control bone formation. The research links

serotonin

> produced in the duodenum to the proliferation of osteoblasts, which

> are cells that create new bone.

[Guest guest]

It's not surprising that SSRIs and Prozac would cause bone loss. They contain fluoride. prozac (or fluoxetine) is 94% fluoride.http://www.battery-rechargeable-charger.com/water-filter-fluoride-poisoning-info.html--- Subject: Re: Study on Serotonin's link to Gut and BonesTo: EOHarm Received: Saturday, November 29, 2008, 3:52 PM

It's well known that Prozac and other SSRIs cause bone loss:

http://findarticles .com/p/articles/ mi_m0CYD/ is_23_39/ ai_n8581182

For that reason, this line of research represents more possible

disaster capitalism. I'm pretty sure that the SSRI side effect of

bone loss is why the researchers even knew to search for bone density

effects and their relation to serotonin. Depending on who was funding

this study (or who funded the academic institution which did the

study), it could seem like a matter of drug companies trying to make

lemonade from lemons-- learn from the Mengele-type adverse events of

their own products and turn this knowledge into profits. The path of

discovery here isn't exactly being publicized.

Even if the researchers are naive about the "inspiration" for this

study, I'm always wary when one "brain chemical" (as this study

points out, "brain chemicals" are really all-over-body chemicals for

the most part) is pinpointed among the 100 or so closely interacting

chemicals that are scarcely understood because, again, it sounds like

pharmaceutical- funded drug research (is there any other kind?),

looking for magic pills to sell. The body just doesn't conform to

drug-marketing schemes, isn't that simple. Could be that by reducing

serotonin, they'll cause a host of other nasty side effects which can

then be studied and used to generate another scheme to treat the side

effects.

The bigger question is why are people having problems with bone

density? But looking for cause leads to prevention which cuts

profits.

>

> From efluxmedia.com

>

> Bone Formation Linked to Serotonin in Gut, Research Brings Hope for

> Osteoporosis Sufferers

> By Alice Carver

> 14:40, November 27th 2008 3 votes

>

> Bone formation appears to be controlled by serotonin, a chemical in

> the brain that also influences mood, appetite, sleep and

metabolism.

> The discovery may lead to a novel treatment of osteoporosis, a

> disease that affects 10 million Americans older than 50.

>

> In a paper published online Wednesday in the journal Cell, a team

of

> researchers led by Dr. Gerard Karsenty, chairman of the department

of

> genetics and development and the Columbia University College of

> Physicians and Surgeons, reports the discovery of a surprising

system

> that appears to control bone formation. The research links

serotonin

> produced in the duodenum to the proliferation of osteoblasts, which

> are cells that create new bone.

[Guest guest]

re fluoride and serotonin:

http://www.slweb.org/luke-1997.html---

Subject: Study on Serotonin's link to Gut and BonesTo: EOHarm Received: Saturday, November 29, 2008, 1:56 PM

From efluxmedia.comBone Formation Linked to Serotonin in Gut, Research Brings Hope for Osteoporosis Sufferers By Alice Carver 14:40, November 27th 2008 3 votesBone formation appears to be controlled by serotonin, a chemical in the brain that also influences mood, appetite, sleep and metabolism. The discovery may lead to a novel treatment of osteoporosis, a disease that affects 10 million Americans older than 50. In a paper published online Wednesday in the journal Cell, a team of researchers led by Dr. Gerard Karsenty, chairman of the department of genetics and development and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, reports the discovery of a surprising system that appears to control bone formation. The research links serotonin produced in the duodenum to the proliferation of osteoblasts, which are cells that create new bone. In osteoporosis, the bone

mineral density is reduced, bone micro-architecture is disrupted and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered. It is most common in women after menopause (the so-called postmenopausal osteoporosis) but may also develop in men. The disease may significantly affect life expectancy and quality of life. The scientists studied Lrp5, a gene that regulates bone formation, which lead to the discovery of a correspondence between serotonin and bone density. People with mutation of Lrp5 that cause the protein to be less active suffer from bone-weakening osteoporosis. Those who have mutations that increase the activity of Lrp5, have high bone mass syndrome. Scientists discovered that in mice the gene that regulates bone formation controls serotonin production in the gut. The discovery lead to the hypothesis of a connection among Lrp5, its associated bone disease and serotonin produced in

the gut. Using transgenic mice, the researchers showed inactivating Lrp5 caused severe osteoporosis while overactivating Lrp5 led to higher bone mass. The mechanism through which gut serotonin controls bone formation is simple: serotonin made by the gut is released into the blood, and the more serotonin that reaches bone, the more bone is lost; the less serotonin, the denser and stronger bones become. "The findings demonstrate without a doubt that serotonin from the gut is acting as a hormone to regulate bone mass," Dr. Karsenty said. This is the first study to demonstrate the link between serotonin from the gut and bone formation. Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system and enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. In the brain, serotonin plays an important role as a neurotransmitter in the

modulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, sexuality, appetite and metabolism. 95 percent of the body's serotonin is produced by duodenum, while the brain generates the other five percent. Senior author Gerard Karsenty hopes to find a new drug that depresses the gut's serotonin synthesis and stimulates bone growth in these patients, the New York Times reported. Other researchers, who were not involved in the study, were very excited by this "groundbreaking" finding. Using the results of this study as parting point, perhaps further valuable treatments will soon be discovered. © 2007 - 2008 - eFluxMedia