Tejal Somvanshi
Scientists have discovered that how our bodies break down bone is linked to our internal body clock, while bone formation isn’t affected by these daily rhythms. This finding could change how we think about bone health and conditions like osteoporosis.
Researchers from the University of Surrey and University of Sheffield studied 22 young adults by taking blood samples every two hours over a 26-hour period. They measured two important markers: one that signals bone formation (sPINP) and another that indicates bone breakdown (sCTX).
“This study has established a clear link between circadian rhythms and bone resorption, which is a key process in maintaining bone integrity,” explained Dr. Andrea Darling, lead author from the University of Surrey.
What makes this study special is how it was conducted. Participants were kept under a constant routine protocol that minimized external influences such as activity, meals, and light. This “constant routine” approach allowed researchers to confirm that the rhythm of bone breakdown is truly controlled by our internal body clock, rather than just being influenced by daily activities.
Professor Richard Eastell from the University of Sheffield noted, “We knew that there was a daily rhythm of bone resorption markers already, but what this study has added is the constant routine protocol which allows us to conclude that the rhythm is a circadian one.”
Our bodies constantly renew bone through two processes: breaking down old bone (resorption) and building new bone (formation). This study shows that only the breakdown process follows a circadian rhythm, with more breakdown happening at night and less during the day.
This discovery has important implications for people who experience disrupted sleep patterns or work night shifts. A significant portion of the global workforce does shift work, which may increase their risk of bone problems.
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“This fascinating study sheds new light on the fundamental biology of how our bones are renewed,” said Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. “By showing that bone breakdown is tied to the body’s circadian rhythms, it opens up important new questions about whether disrupted sleep and shift work could increase people’s risk of osteoporosis.”
When bone breakdown outpaces formation, bones become weak and fragile, increasing fracture risk.
Research suggests that night shift workers may have lower bone mineral density compared to day workers, supporting the connection between circadian disruption and bone health.
Professor Debra Skene, senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of the findings: “Successful collaboration between chronobiology, nutritional sciences and bone metabolism researchers has led to these exciting new findings. More research into how misalignment of circadian rhythms, often seen in shift workers, might affect bone density and conditions like osteoporosis, is needed.”
The research team now plans to study whether older adults and people with osteoporosis show similar or disrupted circadian patterns in bone resorption. This could lead to new approaches for preventing and treating osteoporosis.
The findings may also influence when certain osteoporosis medications should be taken for maximum effectiveness. If bone breakdown mainly happens at night, timing treatments to match this natural rhythm might improve results – an approach known as chronotherapy.
This study, funded by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, was published in Scientific Reports and represents an important step in understanding the complex relationship between our body clock and bone health.
