A simple daily fiber supplement reduced arthritis pain and improved strength

A new clinical trial suggests that a simple daily fiber supplement could significantly reduce knee osteoarthritis pain, improve muscle strength, and make the body less sensitive to pain. Researchers discovered that the benefits may be linked to changes in gut bacteria and the hormone GLP-1, revealing a promising new approach to arthritis relief. A simple daily fiber supplement may offer a surprising new way to relieve knee arthritis pain while improving muscle strength. In a clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Nottingham, people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who took a prebiotic fiber called inulin experienced significant reductions in pain, improved grip strength, and decreased sensitivity to pain.

The supplement also appeared to be considerably easier for participants to stick with than a digital physical therapy program. Only 3.6% of those assigned to inulin alone dropped out of the study, compared with 21% of those assigned to physical therapy alone. Published in the journal Nutrients, the findings suggest that improving gut health could become an additional strategy for managing arthritis. They also reveal an intriguing connection between the bacteria living in our digestive system, the way our bodies process pain, and muscle function. Knee osteoarthritis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is a