The Role of Dietary Fiber in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Feasibility Study.
Julian HägerHolger BangMelanie HagenMichael FrechPascal TrägerMaria V SokolovaUlrike SteffenKoray TascilarKerstin SarterGeorg SchettJürgen RechMario M ZaissPublished in: Nutrients (2019)
Short-chain fatty acids are microbial metabolites that have been shown to be key regulators of the gut-joint axis in animal models. In humans, microbial dysbiosis was observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients as well as in those at-risk to develop RA, and is thought to be an environmental trigger for the development of clinical disease. At the same time, diet has a proven impact on maintaining intestinal microbial homeostasis. Given this association, we performed a feasibility study in RA patients using high-fiber dietary supplementation with the objective to restore microbial homeostasis and promote the secretion of beneficial immunomodulatory microbial metabolites. RA patients (n = 36) under routine care received daily high-fiber bars or cereals for 28 days. Clinical assessments and laboratory analysis of immune parameters in blood and stool samples from RA patients were done before and after the high-fiber dietary supplementation. We observed an increase in circulating regulatory T cell numbers, favorable Th1/Th17 ratios, as well as decreased markers of bone erosion in RA patients after 28 days of dietary intervention. Furthermore, patient-related outcomes of RA improved. Based on these results, we conclude that controlled clinical studies of high-fiber dietary interventions could be a viable approach to supplement or complement current pharmacological treatment strategies.
Keyphrases
- rheumatoid arthritis
- end stage renal disease
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- healthcare
- chronic kidney disease
- disease activity
- peritoneal dialysis
- randomized controlled trial
- prognostic factors
- physical activity
- microbial community
- rheumatoid arthritis patients
- risk assessment
- patient reported outcomes
- palliative care
- fatty acid
- adipose tissue
- skeletal muscle
- chronic pain
- ms ms
- quality improvement
- climate change
- weight loss
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- affordable care act