Rheumatoid arthritis: Do gut bacteria play a role?

Evan Walker
Evan Walker TheMediTary.Com |
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Changes in the gut microbiome may be a tell-tale sign of the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Image credit: Instants/Getty Images.
  • As of 2020, about 17.6 million people globally were living with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease causing painful inflammation and swelling in joints.
  • Scientists are still not sure as to the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis. New research suggests that certain changes to the gut microbiome may be linked to the development of this condition.
  • The study authors believe their findings offer a potential new pathway for new early preventative strategies for rheumatoid arthritis.

As of 2020, about 17.6 million people around the world were living with rheumatoid arthritis — an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks tissues lining the joints of the hands and feet, causing painful inflammation and swelling.

Researchers are still unclear as to the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis. However, previous studies show that genetics, environmental factors, smoking, and obesity may increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.

“There is still a lot we don’t understand about rheumatoid arthritis development and unfortunately there is little to none preventative strategies available,” Christopher Rooney, MD, PhD, researcher at the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, told Medical News Today.

Rooney is the lead author of a new study reporting that certain changes to the gut microbiome may be linked to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, potentially opening up a new pathway for disease prevention strategies.

The study was recently published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Rooney said these findings may one day lead to new treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis.

“Our findings suggest that certain bacteria in the gut microbiome may be involved in triggering the immune changes that lead to rheumatoid arthritis,” he explained. “If we can confirm and better understand this connection, it could pave the way for new treatment approaches targeting the microbiome.”

“One potential strategy could be to develop therapies that specifically alter or ‘rebalance’ the gut microbiome, possibly through the use of probiotics, dietary interventions, or microbiome-based medications,” Rooney continued.

“By reducing or modifying the presence of bacteria associated with [rheumatoid arthritis], it may be possible to lower the risk of the disease progressing. While more research is needed, this line of inquiry holds promise for preventive and personalized treatments that could improve outcomes and quality of life for those susceptible to [rheumatoid arthritis].”

– Christopher Rooney, MD, PhD

“Our next steps involve studying how these specific bacteria influence immune activity in greater detail to confirm their role in rheumatoid arthritis development,” he added. “We will also explore interventions that could modify the gut microbiome in those at risk, such as targeted probiotics or dietary changes, aiming to understand if these approaches might prevent or delay disease onset.”

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