Fibre-rich foods 'may help protect against joint diseases and improve bone health'

People eating adiet featuring plenty of fibre-rich foods such as muesli may experience better bone health and a lower risk of autoimmune diseases. This is according to a new study from Germany's Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, which has shed light on how a healthy diet rich in fibre can alter the behaviour of intestinal bacteria in a way that has a positive impact on chronic inflammatory joint diseases. How does fibre-rich food improve bone health? Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study looked at mice to examine the effect that diet has on the composition of intestinal bacteria, which aid digestion by breaking fibre down into its individual components to be absorbed by the body. It is also known that this process creates short-chain fatty acids that stimulate intestinal movements and deliver an anti-inflammatory effect. This new research indicated that eating more fibre changes intestinal bacteria in such a way that more of these fatty acids are formed in key areas such as the bone marrow, resulting in a reduction in the number of bone-degrading cells. Potential implications As such, sticking to a bacteria-friendly diet could potentially deliver significant anti-inflammatory effects and a positive impact on bone density, hopefully reducing the risk of being affected by painful conditions such as rheumatoidarthritis andosteoporosis. Study leader Dr Mario Zaiss said:"Our findings offer a promising approach for developing ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news