Inulin and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in 60 people over 8 weeks
What it found
Taking 10 g of inulin daily for 8 weeks improved joint swelling, morning stiffness, hand strength, quality of life, and one inflammation marker in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
It did not change pain levels compared to a placebo.
What they found
Studies in people
Joint swelling and tenderness
Both groups saw fewer swollen and tender joints by the end of the trial. However, the group taking inulin had a greater drop in both measures than the placebo group.
Morning stiffness and grip
Morning stiffness eased and hand grip strength improved only in the group taking inulin. The placebo group did not see these changes.
Inflammation markers
A blood marker called CRP dropped more in the inulin group than in the placebo group. Another marker, ESR, fell within the inulin group but was not clearly different from the placebo group after accounting for other factors.
Quality of life scores
People taking inulin reported better scores on a questionnaire measuring daily tasks like dressing, eating, and walking. The placebo group did not show this improvement.
Pain intensity
Pain levels fell in both groups over the 8 weeks. When comparing the two groups directly, inulin did not reduce pain more than the placebo.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that adding inulin to treatment may help manage inflammation, disease activity, and daily function in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- They suggest it could be a valuable addition to standard care for these patients.
How it was done
Rheumatoid arthritis causes painful, swollen joints and has no cure. Long-term use of standard drugs can cause side effects, so the authors wanted to see if inulin could help manage symptoms by supporting gut bacteria.
The researchers gave 60 adults with active rheumatoid arthritis either 10 g of inulin or a lookalike placebo every day for 8 weeks. Everyone continued their usual prescribed medicines during the trial.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial lasted only 8 weeks, so it cannot show whether inulin helps over months or years.
- The study did not measure changes in gut bacteria directly, so scientists do not yet know exactly how inulin produced these results.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study procedure was performed according to the Declaration of Helsinki checklist. All participants provided informed written consents, and the local Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences approved the study protocol (IR.MUI.RESEARCH.REC.1401.394).
- Authors work at
- Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Inulin supplementation improves some inflammatory indices, clinical outcomes, and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Tabatabaeyan A, Grigorian A, Salesi M, Fiezi A, Kafeshani M (2025). Inulin supplementation improves some inflammatory indices, clinical outcomes, and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Scientific reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-16611-3Free full textPubMed 40841439DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error