RA and probiotics?: Hello does anyone know if us RA... - NRAS

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RA and probiotics?

lindyloo2018 profile image
34 Replies

Hello

does anyone know if us RA sufferers can take probiotics ?

I use probiotic yoghurts when on antibiotics to put back the good bacteria, but I wondered if too many good bacteria actually made RA worse ? it's all part of the immune system..

I read a while ago that immunosuppressant drugs killed the good bacteria in our bodies - not sure if that's correct..?

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lindyloo2018
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34 Replies
Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947

I take daily probiotics in tablet form for gut problems. Also have RA. No problem.

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

Antibiotics do kill bacteria, and immune suppressing drugs may have a small effect but no one have really researched this.

But really don’t worry about eating yoghurt, having a healthy digestive system will help, not hinder. Do just check the labels of the yoghurt you buy to make it does have a lot of probiotics and issn’t just lots of sugar and not much else.

madme1 profile image
madme1 in reply tohelixhelix

I got told not to eat yogurt with live bacteria in, think it was prebiotics rather than the probiotics that I'm not supposed to have. I was also told not to have things containing unpasteurised milk, and soft cheeses, but the thinking may have changed now.

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply tomadme1

it seems a very UK thing to tell people on biologics to follow the same regime as pregnant women. In France we are just told to pay attention to good food hygiene. I’ve been on biologics maybe 5 years now and eat raw eggs, unpasteurised food, soft cheese, etc etc

bpeal1 profile image
bpeal1 in reply tohelixhelix

and not even consistent on the UK. I’ve never been told to avoid unpasteurised dairy products or raw egg. Like you just recommended to follow good food hygiene.

madme1 profile image
madme1 in reply tohelixhelix

I wish I could but each person is different, I used to eat cottage cheese, then wonder why I had such an upset stomach afterwards. I think the ulcerative collitis plays a part in that as well. I know cheese, chocolate, meringues really upset my stomach.

Kitek profile image
Kitek in reply tohelixhelix

may I ask? What kind of biologic are you on? I am on Orencia. I take probiotics every day

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toKitek

I’m on Enbrel, but don’t take any probiotics. I just eat real food 😁

Kitek profile image
Kitek in reply tohelixhelix

real food !that’s the answer …… I’m trying , but seems to me like I cannot eat bread and starches, and that kind of sucks but I do prefer real food as well😁

Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947 in reply tohelixhelix

Real food! Some times these medical people we see who have had years of training but just know that a probiotic is beneficial especially taking certain meds or have gut issues. We all eat real food but maybe not eat our greens as we should 😀

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toJackie1947

I guess it helps that we grow out own veg, so knee deep in green things right now!

Not sure that everyone eats well - real food to me is avoiding all highly processed food. A lot of people don’t have the time or enthusiasm to do that.

Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947 in reply tohelixhelix

I have to limit green stuff due to RA related Microscopic Colitis. It's true highly processed food is rubbish as I found out yesterday after bad choices on Saturday

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toJackie1947

how awful to have to limit green veg…!

Runrig01 profile image
Runrig01

My rheumatologist advised against using probiotics when on immunosuppressants. He said that we won’t mount the same response to a microbe, and what is harmless to others, may be harmful to us.

Probiotics
Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947 in reply toRunrig01

I take them mainly for gut issues and my RA consultant has no issues with that

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toRunrig01

commercially available probiotic yoghurts are so weak that I would be surprised if they had a negative effect.

A lack of clinical evidence means that they can’t say one way or another. Aanecdotal evidence is that they make no difference, and no reports of serious illness as a result.

oldtimer profile image
oldtimer

All the evidence so far suggests that the prebiotics reduce the inflammation producing bacteria in the gut. Eat a good diet as well of course!

MJSlide1958 profile image
MJSlide1958 in reply tooldtimer

What is difference between a probiotic and prebiotic please?

oldtimer2 profile image
oldtimer2 in reply toMJSlide1958

Not a lot but you need both really:

Probiotics. These are live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements. They can provide numerous health benefits. These are yogurt and other fermented foods

Prebiotics. These substances come from types of carbs (mostly fibre) that humans can’t digest. The beneficial bacteria in your gut eat this fibre and multiply.

MJSlide1958 profile image
MJSlide1958 in reply tooldtimer2

Thank you so much. Optibac are saying that they do not sell or advise people who are on biologics. I am sure plenty of patients on biologics take a probiotic?

Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947

Found this

Large
lindyloo2018 profile image
lindyloo2018 in reply toJackie1947

Hi

please tell me where you found this ?

Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947 in reply tolindyloo2018

Arthritis Foundation

lindyloo2018 profile image
lindyloo2018 in reply toJackie1947

thanks

Hippo1234567 profile image
Hippo1234567

I was reading about this just this morning. I take sulfasalazine and HCQ and I wondered what they could be doing to my microbiome which is now being understood to be so important. I read that SSZ kills harmful bacteria. I’m a little sceptical- how can it kill only harmful? I paid for the Zoe plan, had my bacteria tested and the results said “poor”. I wonder how much of that could be due to medication and how it could affect me as my diet is quite good.

Circledancer profile image
Circledancer

When I was first diagnosed and put on methotrexate I asked my rheumatologist if I could continue taking probiotics. He asked what make I took. When I told him Biokult he immediately said yes, definitely. I rarely have stomach issues and also feel that they make me very 'regular'.

Angels54 profile image
Angels54

I take probiotics and would say they ok especially due to all the drugs I take .

Inanotherlife profile image
Inanotherlife

I asked Rheumatology again recently when I started Baracitinib and they said no but I have taken them in the past with Etanercept and Simponi. Not the drinks/yoghurts, the tablet form but only up to 5 billion cultures. There does seem to be inconsistency with the medics responses. Ultimately from the what I’ve learned, I don’t think there’s enough evidence either way.

As always, everyone is different. Sulfasalazine aids stomach inflammation, irrespective of eating yoghurt.

I eat natural organic yoghurt nearly every day, but probiotic or live yoghurts vary so much it probably depends on which you get.

Also all studies seem to contradict each other and many are funded by yoghurt companies…

Eat healthily and avoid additives/ processed foods, is the only mantra you can trust…

Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947 in reply to

Sulphasazine is probably the cause of my Pancreatitis due to long term use

MJSlide1958 profile image
MJSlide1958 in reply to

Yeo valley 0% natural greek is nice, but if good whilst on biologic is to be confirmed??

Happy5 profile image
Happy5

I take them a probiotic daily no idea about whether should or not, other than when on antibiotics a good idea.

MJSlide1958 profile image
MJSlide1958

Hi

I would really like to know myself because of biologics, Enbrel. And I think if taking Methotrexate it may be a very good idea to take probiotics? But I wish a professional can answer this question that I am wanting to know for such a long time???

TheBoys profile image
TheBoys

I do plus have Kefir in the mornings with zero problems…

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