Our Bones and Muscles Act As An Endocrine-like Organs and Other Interesting Nutritional Tidbits – Part 1
Hello Friends:
As humans, we tend to prefer things to be neatly categorical–everything to fit either in this box or that box–ambiguity often invites more confusing complexity–some people thrive on this, and some people avoid this at all costs.
However, when delving into science in general, nutrition, biology, endocrinology, cell physiology, etc. we begin to appreciate a small example of great cross-over and redundant mechanisms that can keep us wondering, curious, and in awe.
A perfect example is looking at our bones and our skeleton and its three main cells; osteophytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts.
However, I will focus more on the interaction and balance of osteoblasts vs. osteoclasts in determining bone structure, overall health, nutrition, and relationship to various diseases–especially degenerative diseases.
The conventional discussion about bones and their specialized cells called “osteoblasts” and the opposing cells called “osteoclasts”, is that they work together, under the influence of our hormones, activity, environment, and dietary factors, synergistically and balanced in rebuilding and breaking down our bone structure to maximize its health, adaptation, and strength throughout our lives.
However, what is less understood and discussed, is that our bones may function, by virtue of the unique cell only found in bones, the osteoblast, as an endocrine-like organ whose key hormone osteocalcin affects our bodies in a profound manner from metabolism to cognition! Quoting the following scientists in their article:
“Osteocalcin—A Versatile Bone-Derived Hormone” Sarah Moser and Bram van der Eerden
Bone has long been regarded as a static organ, simply providing protection and support. However, this mindset has changed radically in recent years and bone is becoming increasingly recognized for its endocrine function of secreting several hormones, thereby controlling various physiological pathways. One of the factors released by the skeleton is osteocalcin.
Importantly, osteocalcin is secreted solely by osteoblasts but only has minor effects on bone mineralization and density. Instead, it has been reported to control several physiological processes in an endocrine manner, such as glucose homeostasis and exercise capacity, brain development, cognition, and male fertility. “
Because of the osteoblast’s secreting factors that possess hormonal function they are thereby able to control other organs as well as adipogenesis, neuronal development, and muscle growth!
Here is where we can expand in a million directions of discussion, but for this article, will try to keep the focus limited and more specific to some interesting relationships of bone health, bringing in skeletal muscle function, different disease states, and nutrition in Part Two.
“Bone loss and osteoporosis are associated with conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease”PMID: 25115539 DOI: Os
From our current understanding, indeed many reasons for cognitive decline, but in this case with a related discussion about bones, I would assume that the common “cross-over ” intersection point would be with the viable function of the “osteoblasts” in creating its “osteocalcin” and its significant effects on brain health and cognition,
However, hold on!
There is another age-related condition ( but not always related to aging–also can be related to disease, inactivity and injury ), Sarcopenia, muscle weakness, and atrophy.
This condition is very significantly involved with bone health, and thus osteocalcin, as well as skeletal muscle’s own secreted factors different in its origin and nature of molecules different than bone, but also has its profound, synergistic and robust “endocrine-like” functions as well.
Skeletal muscle, as an endocrine organ, as well as bone produces several secreted factors referred to as myokines. This list of molecules includes myostatin, IL-6 (interleukin 6), IL-8, IL-15, LIF (leukemia inhibitory factor), BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), heard a lot about in cognitive health and in reference to Lion’s Mane mushroom, for instance, factor follistatin-like 1, FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) and irisin acting in endocrine manners and exclusively found in exercising skeletal muscle. Many of these myokines can significantly influence bone repair and bone metabolism as well, as our overall health.
Irisin, the cleaved and circulating form of the exercise hormone secreted from exercising skeletal muscle, is sufficient to confer the benefits of exercise on cognitive function.
Irisin is a crucial regulator of the cognitive benefits of exercise and is actually being looked at as a potential therapeutic agent for treating cognitive disorders including AD!
Herein is some of the intrigue, for we know conventionally that strong bones structurally are related to having enough of the incredible and so significant Vitamin D3, vitamin K2, balanced calcium/magnesium, trace minerals, and protein, but in this case. as to discuss in PART TWO, we will also briefly look at some general outside-the-box dietary factors and contributors that keep the osteoblastic and muscle endocrine roles functioning in a more optimally balanced and protected manner.
These interactions are of profound interest in bringing new insights, new research, and new ideas related to our overall health, youthfulness, and life extension!