Joint Pain Is Believed To Be Caused By Intestinal Bacteria
Is it possible that intestinal bacteria influence joint pain? According to different studies, these microbes could indeed affect the immune system and cause problems in other parts of the body.
Gut bacteria can cause joint pain because they attack and break down cartilage.
This is because rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that occurs when there is a breakdown of cartilage. It can therefore cause inflammation and stiffness in the joints.
Many studies have been able to determine the risk factors that can trigger this type of health problem. However, experts are still not sure what could be the direct cause.
In looking for an underlying cause for joint problems, a group of researchers focused on a potential culprit. This had not been taken into account until now: intestinal bacteria
Recent studies have found that gut bacteria can cause different joint pain. This is particularly the case with rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition, they could also be linked to diseases that disrupt the immune system. They would also cause many other chronic problems.
Intestinal bacteria, one of the causes of joint pain
A study was conducted in 2013, Dr. José Scher, rheumatologist from New York University, in the United States.
He found that people with rheumatoid arthritis were more likely than others to develop an intestinal bacteria called Prevotella copri in their gut .
In another survey published in October of the same year, Scher reports that patients with psoriatic arthritis have lower levels of some important good gut bacteria.
These studies are part of the efforts of different scientists around the world.
It is about understanding how the microbiome (the mass of microbes that live in the gastrointestinal tract) plays a fundamental role in the general state of human health.
It has been estimated that a billion different species of bacteria live in our gut, and that they can represent between one and three kilograms of our body weight.
Recently, scientists are trying to show that these bacteria play a very important role in health.
Even if some can be at the origin of different pathologies, others protect us against external attacks.
Gut bacteria affect the immune system
Immunologist Veena Taneja, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says “ It’s increasingly clear that these microbes can affect the immune system.
Indeed, “ they cause diseases that are not naturally present in the intestines, and that joint pain is linked to these bacteria”.
The researchers were surprised by the findings of their studies. Indeed, intestinal bacteria influence the immune system much more than previously thought.
In recent decades, cases of autoimmune diseases have increased. Many scientists believe that part of the problem is the disruption of the microbial flora due to the modern lifestyle.
The Prevotella copri bacterium at the origin of joint pain?
Microbes undoubtedly influence the health of the intestines. It is indeed a place where more than two thirds of the body’s immune cells are found.
During the digestion process, the gastrointestinal tract has to fight against a constant flow of foreign microbes. These can come from food. They must be analyzed to find out if they are dangerous for the body.
To accomplish this function, the intestines have developed a very powerful immune system. These effects extend to other organs.
Immune cells that live in the intestine have the ability to activate inflammatory cells throughout the body. And especially those present in the joints.
For expert José Scher, the bacteria Prevotella copri can cause an immune reaction. Its action would then be felt in the tissues, causing pain in the joints.
Another theory is to think that this bacteria could displace the beneficial microbes in the intestine. This would weaken the entire immune system.
There is a third scientific avenue on this subject, which is currently receiving the most support.
Thus, people with high concentrations of Prevotella copri experience a significant decrease in Bacteoides fragilis. The latter is in fact one of the good bacteria that protect our immune system.
The results of these studies have given rise to new investigations. They intend to develop new strategies to use bacteria as a treatment to cure immune diseases.
Conclusion
In fact, health experts already recommend the consumption of probiotics (that is, good bacteria). They help restore the intestinal flora. But also to treat health problems such as acne, insomnia, or other disorders related to the state of health of the intestines.
