Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Russ Kauffman

Keywords

prebiotics, probiotics, gut microbiome, knee osteoarthritis, gut-joint axis, inflammation

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability among older adults worldwide, characterized by pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and declining physical function. Current treatments are largely symptomatic rather than disease-modifying and include NSAIDs, acetaminophen, corticosteroid injections, and, ultimately, joint replacement. Emerging evidence suggests a possible link between gut microbiota composition and joint health through the gut-joint axis, whereby gut dysbiosis may increase intestinal permeability, allowing proinflammatory mediators to enter systemic circulation and contribute to synovial joint inflammation. The purpose of this literature review was to examine the potential role of prebiotic and probiotic supplementation in the management of adults with knee OA. A literature search of PubMed and Embase was conducted using relevant keywords and MeSH terms. This review included six randomized controlled trials published between 2017 and 2025. Overall, findings suggests that daily prebiotic or probiotic supplementation may reduce pain and inflammation and improve physical function in adults with knee OA compared with placebo, potentially through modulation of gut health and systemic inflammation. However, given the limited number of studies and small sample sizes, further large-scale trials are needed to clarify optimal dosing, strain selection, and clinical efficacy before pre- and probiotics can be widely recommended as adjunctive therapies in OA management.

Download

Share

COinS