Six-week trial links inulin supplement to reduced knee osteoarthritis pain

In the 117-participant INSPIRE randomized trial, adults with knee osteoarthritis received inulin, digitally supported physical therapy, both, or placebo for six weeks. Inulin and physical therapy each reduced knee pain; inulin was also associated with improved grip strength and lower pain sensitivity, but the small, short trial does not establish lasting benefit.

Both inulin and physical therapy reduced knee pain.
Inulin was associated with better grip strength and lower pain sensitivity.
Trial involved 117 adults and lasted six weeks.
Longer, larger studies are needed before practice changes.

The INSPIRE trial randomized 117 adults with knee osteoarthritis to daily inulin, digitally supported physical therapy exercises, both interventions, or placebo for six weeks. Researchers assessed knee pain and other measures, including grip strength, pain sensitivity, and biological markers related to gut activity. The supplied report does not provide intervention doses or numerical results for the pain and strength outcomes.

Both inulin and physical therapy independently reduced knee pain. Participants assigned to inulin also showed improved grip strength and reduced pain sensitivity, findings not reported for physical therapy alone. Inulin use was accompanied by higher butyrate and GLP-1 levels; higher GLP-1 was associated with better grip strength, but this does not demonstrate causation. Dropout was 3.6% in the inulin-only group and 21% in the physical-therapy-only group.

These findings suggest inulin could warrant further study as an adjunct to osteoarthritis care, not a replacement for exercise or established treatment. The six-week study was relatively small, and longer, larger trials are needed to assess durability, identify likely responders, and clarify mechanisms. The report describes the supplement as well tolerated but gives no detailed safety data.

In practice

For adults with knee osteoarthritis, this small six-week randomized trial found reduced pain with inulin and with digitally supported physical therapy; inulin was also associated with improved grip strength and lower pain sensitivity. These preliminary results may support further evaluation of inulin as a possible adjunct, but they do not establish durable benefit or justify replacing exercise or other established care. The report does not provide numerical effect sizes or detailed safety results, and larger, longer studies are needed.

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Source

Nutrients (via ScienceDaily): A simple daily fiber supplement reduced arthritis pain and improved strength ↗

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