Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is characterized as a degenerative joint disease. This means there is a progressive destruction of the articular cartilage. It is a slow and gradual onset, which can be caught and treated early. Articular cartilage is the tissue that lines the joints. The healthier the cartilage, the easier the joint moves. With osteoarthritis, underlying inflammatory pathways may play significant roles in the degradation of the cartilage. There are a number of ways to address these inflammatory pathways and the destruction of the cartilage.
One way to address these factors is by addressing the gut microbiome. Hippocrates once said, “all disease begins in the gut”. There have been many associations made between the gut microbiome and osteoarthritis. Dr. Thomas Guilliams addresses how the imbalances in the gut microbiome can affect the barrier function of the gut. This can then lead to intestinal permeability. This intestinal permeability can then lead to inappropriate immune responses, which increases the inflammatory signal.
The gut microbiome is a sensitive balance of bacteria. When there is an imbalance in this bacteria, this can allow the gut to absorb and release inappropriate nutrients and signals. This then leads to an inappropriate immune response. The inappropriate immune response causes inflammation, and that can accelerate the destruction of joint cartilage and worsen arthritis.
Integrative Sports Medicine carries an specially curated line of pharmaceutical grade supplements. Within this line, we carry a probiotic called Orthobiotic. Orthobiotic is a probiotic formula which delivers an active organism to the gut. This promotes a healthy gut microflora. Our GI tracts are hosts to 500 different strains of bacteria. All of these strains compete for space and nutrients. The use of a probiotic helps increase the population of healthy bacteria.
The more healthy bacteria we have in our guts, the more the gut can regulate itself and prevent inappropropriate responses. We recommend that everyone takes a probiotic to help regulate your gut. Orthobiotic is an effective way to go.
Contributed by Sara Liberatore
ISM@integrativesportsmed.com
References:
- The Standard Volume 18, No. 1 – Osteoarthritis – Evidence for a Non-Pharmacological Approach
2.https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/product/ortho-biotic-capsules
