Role of Probiotics in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lifestyle changes have affected the health of many individuals, majority being in industrialized nations compared to developing nations. Epithelial and mucosal permeability potentially mediates and influences immune tolerance to residing local microbiome. Lifestyle changes and dietary habits affect the local microbiome and finally lead to immunological imbalances. Diet which has great impact on microbiome of human intestines is associated with inflammation at local site and enhances the permeability of pro-inflammatory lymphocytes and cytokines into systemic circulation and leads to spread of various inflammatory mediators to distant joints. Recently, clinical trials which reported an administration of Lactobacillus casei 01 to rheumatoid arthritis patients have significantly reduced level of inflammatory cytokines and alleviation of symptoms. This chapter will emphasize on literature related to relationship of intestinal microbiome with arthritis progression and role of probiotics in management of rheumatoid arthritis.