Successfully Treat Arthritis… Through Your Gut?!

Scientists Predict Success with 90 Percent Accuracy

Rheumatoid arthritis is tricky. 

Unlike osteoarthritis—which is caused by wear and tear on the joints—the rheumatoid variety is actually an autoimmune disease. 

It occurs when your immune system goes haywire and sends a flood of inflammation to your joints, which causes bone erosion and joint deformity. 

Certain medications can slow down the disease’s progression, but some patients respond better to treatment than others. 

Now, doctors may have found out why. 

Targeting this key variation could be the difference between successful treatment… and a lifetime of pain and disfigurement. 

The answer was found in an unlikely place… stool samples. 

For this study, researchers evaluated the stool samples of 32 patients with RA. They looked at the association between the gut microbiome and the RA disease activity. 

Ultimately, the researchers observed a significant difference between the gut microbiomes of those who showed clinical improvements and those who didn’t. 

Using deep learning artificial intelligence (AI), they were also able to predict whether patients would achieve clinical improvement with 90 percent accuracy based on their microbiome! 

The best part is that this information could do more than just predict who could improve… it could give ALL rheumatoid arthritis patients the recipe for treatment success. 

While altering the course of RA might be unpredictable, modifying your gut microbiome is something you have immense control over. 

This study may have been small, but it demonstrated the BIG impact your gut microbiome has on your overall health—not just your digestive health. 

By modifying your diet, fixing your circadian rhythm, eating seasonally, and taking quality probiotics and prebiotics, you’ll be well on your way to a healthy, diverse microbiome—and a healthier YOU. 

That applies whether you have rheumatoid arthritis or not.