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Probiotics’ supplementation alleviates disease severity and improves postural balance by repairing intestinal leak in patients suffering from osteoarthritis: a double-blinded clinical trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2024

Asima Karim Open the ORCID record for Asima Karim [Opens in a new window] ,
Haroon Ahmed Khan ,
M. Shahid Iqbal ,
Firdos Ahmad  and
Rizwan Qaisar Open the ORCID record for Rizwan Qaisar [Opens in a new window]
Asima Karim*
Affiliation:
Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates Iron Biology Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Haroon Ahmed Khan
Affiliation:
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar 25124, Pakistan
M. Shahid Iqbal
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Stroke Medicine, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar 25124, Pakistan
Firdos Ahmad
Affiliation:
Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates Cardiovascular Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Rizwan Qaisar
Affiliation:
Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates Cardiovascular Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
*
Corresponding author: Asima Karim; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Increased intestinal leakiness and associated systemic inflammation are potential contributors to osteoarthritis (OA) and postural imbalance in the geriatric population. To date, no successful treatment to correct postural imbalance in OA is known. We aimed to explore the effects of a multistrain probiotic upon postural imbalance in OA-affected patients. In this randomised, double-blind trial with a placebo group, 147 patients suffering from knee OA (age span = 64–75 years) were divided into placebo (n 75) and probiotics (n 72) study groups. Vivomix 112 billion, multistrain probiotic was given once a day for 12 weeks. The outcomes of study variables were determined first at baseline and later after 12 weeks of intervention. These were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), knee flexion range of motion (ROM), pain intensity by visual analogue scale, handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed and balance control assessed in standing, semi-tandem and tandem stances. We determined plasma zonulin to determine intestinal leak along with c-reactive protein and 8-isoprostanes levels. A total of 136 OA patients taking placebo (n 71) and probiotics (n 65) were analysed. The probiotics group exhibited a reduction in pain intensity, disease severity and WOMAC scores along with improvement in balance scores, HGS and walking speed (P < 0·05 for all), no change in ROM, resting pain and 8-isoprostanes levels. The correlation analysis revealed a robust association of balance scores with plasma markers of intestinal leakiness and inflammation in probiotics but not in the placebo group. Probiotics reduce postural imbalance in OA patients partly due to a reduction in intestinal leakiness.

Keywords

ProbioticsOsteoarthritisZonulinPostural imbalanceWOMAC index
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 132 , Issue 12 , 28 December 2024 , pp. 1602 - 1610
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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