United States: A new study which already suggests that changes in the gut microbiome may be connected to the development of rheumatoid arthritis in people who are already at the risk due to genetic, environmental, or immune factors. While it’s not yet clear if these particular changes cause the disease or are a result of it, the research could help check those people at risk earlier. It also opens the door to possible new ways to prevent and treat the disease in a more personalized way.
As mentioned in previously published literature, the gut microbiota of both at-risk individuals and those with rheumatoid arthritis is less diverse and less balanced than that of people with no such disease. It is still unknown what kind of microbes could be at play in such circumstances.
As reported by Medicalxpress, to elaborate on this, the researchers followed fluctuation in 124 participants at risk of developing RA, seven participants recently diagnosed with RA, and 22 healthy participants’ gut microbiota profile at five time points with stool and blood biomarkers sampled over 15 months.
The risk individuals were targeted by anti-CCP that attacks normal tissues specific to RA and by reported joint pain in the last three months.
The groups’ diet did not differ significantly over the week, with alcohol consumption and the quantity of moderate to vigorous physical activity taken varying among the groups.
The progression from at risk to rheumatoid arthritis was detected in 30 participants of 124 during the study period, and their microbial alpha diversity was significantly lower than in controls.
Alpha diversity was also decreased in both the progressed and the non-progressors and correlated with anti-CCP antibody. Those with low anti-CCP antibodies had similar microbial diversity to the healthy comparison group.
All the genetic, blood, and imaging risk factors previously identified for arthritis development were also associated with lower microbial richness, along with long-term systemic steroid use.