A review published in Nutrients in late September 2021 revealed possible benefits of using probiotics to alleviate symptoms and help treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory disorder characterized by swollen joints, joint stiffness, bone frailty, etc.
Probiotics are well-known for regulating gut microflora and are typically used alongside antibiotics, for diarrhea treatment and prevention, IBS symptoms alleviation, etc.
But how can they help with treating rheumatoid arthritis patients?
Scientific evidence shows that certain probiotic strains (e.g., Lactobacillus spp.) contribute to maintaining the immune system and, most importantly, reducing inflammation — one of the most characteristic RA-related issues.
Therefore, according to research, we may see Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus employed in therapeutic strategies for rheumatoid arthritis patients in the future.
Besides probiotics, particular diet regimens (e.g., fasting or vegan diets) can be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
The Mediterranean diet full of omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals is also an excellent choice for inflammatory disorder patients. Therefore, it could be beneficial for RA patients, especially if combined with probiotics.
However, though this study provides some evidence that probiotics could be an excellent addition to RA treatment in the future, more research is needed to verify its benefits. This is currently a relatively unresearched field but shows potential nevertheless.
