The Role of Dietary Fiber in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Feasibility Study

Häger J, Bang H, Hagen M, Frech M, Träger P, Sokolova MV, Steffen U, Tascilar K, Sarter K, Schett G, Rech J, Zaiss M (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Nutrients MDPI

Book Volume: 11

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.3390/nu11102392

Abstract

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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Melanie Hagen Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Michael Frech Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Ulrike Steffen Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Kerstin Sarter-Zaiss Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Georg Schett Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Hans Jürgen Rech Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Mario Zaiss Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology

Involved external institutions

Melio.Care GmbH DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Häger, J., Bang, H., Hagen, M., Frech, M., Träger, P., Sokolova, M.V.,... Zaiss, M. (2019). The Role of Dietary Fiber in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Feasibility Study. Nutrients, 11(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102392

MLA:

Häger, Julian, et al. "The Role of Dietary Fiber in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Feasibility Study." Nutrients 11.10 (2019).

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