Inulin for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in a randomised trial
What it found
In people with rheumatoid arthritis, 10 g of inulin a day for 8 weeks improved some inflammatory markers, disease activity and quality of life compared with a placebo.
It did not improve pain intensity or ESR.
What they found
Studies in people
Inflammatory markers
CRP levels fell significantly more in the inulin group than the placebo group. ESR levels also fell in the inulin group, but the difference between groups was not significant after adjusting for energy and fibre intake.
Disease activity
The DAS-28 score, swollen joint count and tender joint count all improved more in the inulin group than the placebo group.
Pain and stiffness
Morning stiffness improved significantly more in the inulin group. Pain intensity did not differ significantly between the groups.
Physical function
Hand grip strength and scores on the Health Assessment Questionnaire (quality of life) improved significantly more in the inulin group.
Side effects
No side effects were reported from taking inulin in these patients during the study.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, inulin had beneficial effects on inflammatory indices, clinical outcomes, and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, it had no significant impact on pain intensity or ESR.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that inulin had beneficial effects on inflammatory indices, clinical outcomes, and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- They state that it had no significant impact on pain intensity or ESR.
- They suggest that incorporating inulin into the treatment protocol could be valuable for managing the condition.
How it was done
There is no definitive cure for rheumatoid arthritis, and long-term drug treatment can cause harmful side effects. The authors wanted to test inulin because it is a prebiotic that may affect gut bacteria and inflammation, and no human trial of inulin alone in rheumatoid arthritis had been reported.
Sixty adults with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to take 10 g of inulin or a placebo (maltodextrin) daily for 8 weeks, alongside their usual treatment. Fifty-nine people finished the study. The trial was triple-blind, meaning participants, researchers and statisticians did not know who received which supplement.
What it can’t tell you
- The trial lasted only 8 weeks, so it cannot show whether the improvements last longer.
- The study did not measure gut bacteria or intestinal permeability, so it cannot confirm how inulin might be working.
- The results apply to adults with active rheumatoid arthritis taking standard medication, not to other groups.
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 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error