Could a Fiber Supplement Help Chronic Knee Pain?
Another investigation into the mysterious microbiome The post Could a Fiber Supplement Help Chronic Knee Pain? appeared first on Nautilus .
A recent study published in the journal Nutrients suggests that a fiber supplement, inulin, may help alleviate chronic knee pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers from the University of Nottingham conducted a six-week trial involving 177 adults with the condition, dividing them into four groups: one receiving inulin, one receiving physiotherapy, one receiving both, and one receiving a placebo.
Inulin treatment led to a 1.1-point reduction in knee pain on a 10-point scale, while physiotherapy reduced it by 1.6 points, and the combined treatment reduced it by 1.7 points. Unlike physical therapy, inulin also increased grip strength and reduced pain sensitivity. The study authors found that the inulin-only group had a lower dropout rate (3.6 percent) compared to the physiotherapy-only group (21 percent).
The research indicates that targeting gut health with a prebiotic supplement, like inulin, is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective way to reduce pain in people with knee osteoarthritis. The gut microbiome plays a role in this connection, as inulin is a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria, producing anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids like butyrate.
The study also noted a link between higher GLP-1 levels, which regulate pain pathways and muscle health, and stronger grip strength in those who took inulin.
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