Benefits of Probiotics in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by analyzing nine clinical trials with a total of 385 patients. The study found that probiotic consumption significantly improved the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) and decreased levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-12 in RA patients compared to placebo. However, probiotics did not affect the American College of Rheumatology 20% (ACR20) response, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10. The study concluded that probiotics have beneficial effects on RA, but more extensive trials are needed to confirm their effectiveness in reducing disability and inflammation in RA patients.