Serotonin: a messenger between the brain, the gut, and bone

Abstract

In the last few years there has been an accumulation of knowledge about the role of serotonin on bone turnover. There seems to be a dual effect, with brain serotonin having an anabolic influence on bone, and gut serotonin inhibiting osteoblastic function, although there is a recent controversy about this. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, widely used to treat mood disorders, induce osteopenia and increase fracture risk. Approaches are being studied to modulate the production of gut serotonin as a possible treatment against osteoporosis. However, there is a long road ahead before translating basic findings to clinical practice.