Anyone who has experienced the debilitating pain and inflammation of arthritis will tell you how muc...

1. New Hope for Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Sufferers
Anyone who has experienced the debilitating pain and inflammation of arthritis will tell you how
much these symptoms can rob a person of the joy of living. Arthritis pain can interfere with the
ability to perform even the simplest of tasks, and often prevents sufferers from getting that much-
needed good night's sleep that could help silence an overactive immune system and heal joints.
When you think of addressing arthritis, you probably never give your gut a second thought. But you
might want to.
Research now links gut bacteria and the resulting gut inflammation to rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine linked the prevalence of the harmful
intestinal bacteria, Prevotella copri, to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, which may set off an
inflammatory response that begins in the gut--and may initiate rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers
analyzed 144 stool samples from rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and healthy controls. They assessed
gut bacteria between the two groups using DNA analysis and found that P. copri was more abundant
in newly-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients than healthy individuals or those with an
established R.A. condition.
Additionally, the researchers also found that high levels of P. copri resulted in fewer beneficial gut
bacteria in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a gut flora imbalance affecting
people with the condition. Since a gut flora imbalance can be naturally addressed, this research
provides exciting news for arthritis sufferers since restoring beneficial gut bacteria may be a key to
relief from the debilitating condition.
The NYU researchers built on the understanding established by earlier research published in The
Journal of Clinical Investigation. In this study, mice that were raised in germ-free conditions
developed joint inflammation after the introduction of specific harmful gut bacteria. Study author,
Dan Littman, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and immunology said that "studies of rodent models
have clearly shown that the intestinal microbiota contribute significantly to the causation of systemic
autoimmune diseases."
This new avenue of research suggests possible new treatment options as well, good news for the
estimated 50 million adults in the United States who have been diagnosed as having a form of
arthritis, including: rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.), gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia. While many categorize
arthritis as an "older person's disease," this is a myth. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), an CDC estimates that 294,000 children under 18 have been diagnosed with
some form of arthritic or rheumatic condition. Considering the vast and growing number of people
suffering from this debilitating disease, any natural medicine that offers hope and relief is welcome.
Additional research in the journal Medical Science Monitor suggests that restoring beneficial
bacteria in the gut may offer hope in improving joint function for people suffering from rheumatoid
arthritis. In a study of 30 rheumatoid arthritis sufferers scientists at the University of Western
Ontario, Canada, noted joint function improvement in those who took the specific probiotics
Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri compared to those given placebos. The
researchers are uncertain as to why the probiotics improved joint function. There are no known
harmful effects of supplementing with L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri other than some temporary
bloating while the body adjusts to the beneficial bacteria.
It may be beneficial to add a probiotic supplement with these strains to the treatment regime of

2. arthritis sufferers. Be sure to choose a supplement that contains the two beneficial strains identified
in the study, as most do not. Also, since I am frequently asked if a person could just eat yogurt to
glean the anti-arthritis benefits, it's important to note that while yogurt may confer other benefits, it
does not typically contain either of these strains.
For more information, consult my book The Probiotic Promise: Simple Steps to Heal Your Body from
the Inside Out.
Related
In Praise of Yogurt
10 Reasons to Love the Herb St. John's Wort
Are You Aging Faster than You Think?
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