A daily prebiotic fiber supplement reduced knee pain and improved grip strength for people with osteoarthritis in a six-week clinical trial. The study, led by the University of Nottingham, also found lower dropout rates compared to a physiotherapy program.
Researchers tested inulin, a fiber found in chicory root and other vegetables, on 117 adults with knee osteoarthritis. Participants were split into groups receiving inulin, digital physiotherapy, both, or a placebo.
Inulin alone reduced pain, boosted grip strength, and lowered pain sensitivity. It also showed a 3.6 percent dropout rate, far below the 21 percent seen in the physiotherapy group.
Dr. Afroditi Kouraki, lead author, said the findings suggest a simple dietary change could help manage the condition. Senior author Professor Ana Valdes noted a possible gut-muscle-pain link that merits more study.
The results were published in the journal Nutrients.
