The relation between the gut microbiome and osteoarthritis: A systematic review of literature

Abstract

Background Along with mechanical and genetic factors, emerging evidence suggests that the presence of low-grade inflammation has a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and seems to be related to the microbiome composition of the gut. Purpose To provide evidence whether there is clinical or preclinical evidence of gut-joint axis in the pathogenesis and symptoms of OA. Methods An extensive review of the current literature was performed using three different databases. Human, as well as animal studies, were included. The risk of bias was identified using ROBINS and SYRCLE tools, while the quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE and CAMADARES criteria. Results A total of nineteen articles were included. Multiple animal studies demonstrated that both obesity, and high-fat and high-sugar diets resulted in a gut dysbiosis status characterized by increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) phyla ratio and increased permeability. These changes were associated with increased lipopolysaccharide serum levels, which consequently resulted in synovitis and OA severity. The administration of pre-and probiotics partially reversed this bacterial composition. In addition, in human studies, a decreased amount of gut Bacteroidetes, subsequent increased F/B ratio, have also been observed in OA patients. Conclusions Our review confirms preliminary yet sound evidence supporting a gut-joint axis in OA in primarily preclinical models, by showing an association between diet, gut dysbiosis and OA radiological severity and self-reported symptoms. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings, and to investigate whether interventions targeting the composition of the microbiome will have a beneficial clinical effect.

New Insights into Boron Essentiality in Humans and Animals

“…In our view, B deficiency from the symbiosis process may lead to dysbiosis and gut permeability by decreasing the concentration of AI-2B. At the same time, decreasing the concentration of B in the colonic mucus induces the formation of bacterial metabolites and proinflammatory cytokines, which could help the pathophysiological mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA) [ 112 , 113 , 114 ]. This mechanism could explain why in areas with a high content of B, people have a low OA index [ 115 ].…”

New Understanding of Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Endometriosis

“…The mechanism of the association of endometriosis with a wide range of other symptoms, such as depression, lower BMI, autoimmune diseases, allergies, etc., are not clear. However, considering the recently observed associations between the intestinal microbiome and a whole range of effects on the brain, immunology, and rheumatoid arthritis it is attractive to speculate that many of these associations with endometriosis might also find their origin in hereditary factors increasing the risk of endometriosis and changing the bowel microbiota as reviewed in 42 articles in 2021 only [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]). The association with sexual dysfunction seems to be caused by the pain, which is a strong inhibitor of sexuality [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ].…”

An unexpected connection: A narrative review of the associations between Gut Microbiome and Musculoskeletal Pain

“…Though various reviews could be found on GM and OA [ 163 , 164 ], only one considered the impact of GM composition on pain symptoms [ 165 ]. Sánchez Romero et al, who reviewed GM and OA pain, found only three studies on the subject.…”