Nutrients

Prebiotic fiber eases knee OA pain—no gym required

March 19, 2026

Daily inulin and digital physiotherapy-supported exercise (PSE) each reduced knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain over six weeks. In this randomized, four‑arm trial, 117 adults with knee OA were assigned to one of four groups: inulin alone, inulin plus PSE, PSE alone, or placebo. Inulin lowered pain by −1.11 points vs. placebo (p = 0.045), and PSE lowered pain by −1.55 points (p = 0.002), with no synergistic effect. Inulin improved grip strength, raised pressure pain thresholds, and reduced temporal summation. PSE improved timed up‑and‑go performance and 30‑second sit‑to‑stand scores. Only inulin increased circulating butyrate and GLP‑1, and higher GLP‑1 correlated with stronger grip. Dropout rates differed sharply: 3.6% with inulin vs. 21% with PSE.

Clinical takeaway: For patients with knee OA who struggle with exercise adherence or seek adjunct options, consider discussing prebiotic inulin supplementation as a low-risk strategy to reduce pain and pain sensitivity alongside standard care.

Source:

Kouraki A, et al. (2026, February 24). Nutrients. Effect of Prebiotic Supplementation With and Without Physiotherapy on Pain and Pain Sensitivity in People with Knee Osteoarthritis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41829888/