Arthritis pain eased with a prebiotic

If you’re suffering pain from your arthritis, taking a prebiotic could be more effective than a painkiller.

The gut seems to play a key role in pain management, and treating it well could reduce pain levels, researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered.

They worked with a group of 117 volunteers who suffered from knee osteoarthritis, who had physiotherapy or were given a prebiotic fibre supplement for six weeks.  By the end, the participants taking the prebiotic reported they were experiencing considerably less pain, and their grip strength had also improved.

The prebiotic contained inulin, a natural dietary fibre found in chicory root, Jerusalem artichokes, and other vegetables.  When gut bacteria consume inulin, they produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate, a compound that can affect inflammation and the biological pathways involved in pain throughout the body.

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