Patients Say Healthy Gut Bacteria Relieved Their Chronic Pain in a Puzzling Disease
1 min read
Summary
Researchers in Israel have discovered that changing the bacterial make-up of patients’ intestines can reduce chronic pain.
In some cases, the pain associated with the condition fibromyalgia can be so severe it prevents patients from carrying out everyday activities.
In a small trial, 14 patients with severe fibromyalgia were treated with healthy gut bacteria donated from consented donors and taken as a pill.
Within a month, more than 70% of patients reported lower levels of pain.
Experts believe the results show the microbiome plays a role in fibromyalgia, and that altering bad bacteria in the gut can be a promising new way of treating the condition, which is otherwise difficult to manage.
However, more trials with larger and more diverse participants are needed.
