| Autor: |
Karim A; Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.; Iron Biology Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272 United Arab Emirates., Khan HA; Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar 25124, Pakistan., Iqbal MS; Department of Neurology and Stroke Medicine, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar 25124, Pakistan., Ahmad F; Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.; Cardiovascular Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272 United Arab Emirates., Qaisar R; Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.; Cardiovascular Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272 United Arab Emirates. |
| Abstrakt: |
Increased intestinal leakiness and associated systemic inflammation are potential contributors to osteoarthritis (OA) and postural imbalance in the geriatric population. To-date, no successful treatment to correct postural imbalance in OA is known. We aimed to explore the effects of a multistrain probiotic upon postural imbalance in OA-affected patients. In this randomized, double-blind trial with a placebo group, 147 patients suffering from knee OA (age-span = 64-75 years) were divided into placebo (n=75) and probiotics (n=72) study groups. Vivomix 112 billion, multistrain probiotic was given once a day for 12 weeks. The outcomes of study variables were determined first at baseline and later after 12 weeks of intervention. These were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), knee flexion range-of-movement (ROM), pain intensity by visual analogue scale (VAS), handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed, and balance control assessed in standing, semi-tandem, and tandem stances. We determined plasma zonulin, to determine intestinal leak along with c-reactive protein (CRP) and 8-isoprostanes levels. A total of 136 OA patients taking placebo (n=71) and probiotics (n=65) were analyzed. The probiotics group exhibited a reduction in pain intensity, disease severity, and WOMAC scores along with improvement in balance scores, HGS, and walking speed (p<0.05 for all), no change in ROM, resting pain, and 8-isoprostanes levels. The correlation analysis revealed a robust association of balance scores with plasma markers of intestinal leakiness and inflammation in probiotics but not in the placebo group. Probiotics reduce postural imbalance in OA patients partly due to a reduction in intestinal leakiness. |
