A study by the University of Almería (Spain) examined the relationship between fibromyalgia and probiotics and has shown that the consumption of certain bacteria in fibromyalgia patients can significantly improve their quality of life.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease of unknown origin, characterized by widespread and diffuse musculoskeletal pain, so in addition to physical pain, people with fibromyalgia experience psychological and emotional difficulties, the overall prevalence of which is estimated at 2. 7%.
- Psychological and practical therapy such as meditation often help people with fibromyalgia control and cope with the different types of difficulties encountered.
- However.
- According to the latest data.
- It seems that probiotics are also an alternative.
- Probiotics.
- Let’s go further on that.
Probiotics are live bacteria that bring benefits to the body, such as balancing intestinal flora, strengthening the immune system and better digestion. The study conducted by research groups of the University of Almería edilised the effects of four probiotic strains on people with fibromyalgia.
After clinical trials, scientists have discovered that these probiotic compounds, provided in adequate amounts, act directly improving complex cognitive functions, which are generally affected in these patients. Therefore, this work can be an excellent complement to other studies related to the eating habits of people with fibromyalgia.
Experts are working on the initial hypothesis of attributing a number of benefits to these probiotics, most of them related to the functions of the mind and the physical and emotional planes of patients, according to Pablo Romón, one of the researchers at the University of Almeria, when research began, wanted to see if these bacteria contributed to pain reduction , anxiety and depression affecting patients with fibromyalgia, as well as checking for cognitive improvement.
To do this, the researchers used questionnaires that patients must complete to self-assess, thus being able to collect useful information through indicators such as the degree of pain experienced, quality of life and sleep, as well as the incidence and severity of fibromyalgia symptoms, as well as an inventory of depression to identify the emotional symptoms and anxiety suffered by the sick.
The results indicate that ingestion of microorganisms does not affect the area of the brain responsible for motor functions, however, it does affect the party responsible for controlling the ability to adapt to a particular task, and occurs without patients showing signs of fatigue.
Researchers observed that when making decisions, patients who received probiotic compounds acted less impulsively and needed less time.
Until these conclusions were drawn on the relationship between fibromyalgia and probiotics, experts conducted clinical trials with about 60 patients, most of them women, as this disease particularly affects the female sex.
First, each individual underwent a pre-treatment evaluation, recorded, through various questionnaires and tasks, their cognitive ability, in addition to other factors related to their physical and emotional state; for two days they measured the intensity and type of discomfort of patients, in addition to the presence of anxiety and other depressive symptoms.
Subsequently, individuals were divided into two groups: the former took oral probiotics for eight weeks; the second group of patients took a placebo at the same time. The doses were four capsules per day and all were identical in appearance, taste and smell.
Upon completion of this treatment, the researchers re-interviewed patients to evaluate and compare the results obtained during the pre- and post-therapy phase, those given placebo showed no improvement of any kind, while those taking probiotics showed that their Cognitive Flexibility was slightly greater than that observed prior to the experiment, so the placebo effect was excluded in this type of treatment.
After this first phase, and as part of the funding of the University of Almería, this multidisciplinary group of nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists and neuroscience specialists will continue to work on new lines of research with probiotics that can bring benefits to other diseases. the positive effects of the relationship between fibromyalgia and probiotics appear to have been tested.