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Study finds that understanding how the gut breaks down common compounds in meat and dairy is key to understanding arthritis – ET HealthWorld.

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How gut breaks down common compound in meat, dairy key to understanding arthritis, finds study, ET HealthWorld

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado, US, has found that the breakdown of the compound tryptophan, found in protein-rich foods like meat and dairy products, during digestion may play a significant role in the development of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Tryptophan is essential for the body to produce proteins, muscles, enzymes, and neurotransmitters, and it is obtained through the diet.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, revealed that the way tryptophan is broken down in the gut depends on the type of cells involved in the process – body cells or bacterial cells. While body cells produced anti-inflammatory byproducts, bacterial cells generated indoles, which led to the production of more inflammatory autoreactive T-cells. The researchers, led by Kristine Kuhn, highlighted the importance of diet in influencing how tryptophan is metabolized.

According to Kuhn, a diet rich in plant-based fibers and lean meats, such as the Mediterranean diet, promotes the production of anti-inflammatory byproducts of tryptophan. Conversely, a typical western diet tends to favor the production of inflammatory byproducts. The researchers also found a link between changes in the gut microbiome and increased production of indoles in patients with rheumatic conditions.

Further investigations involved mice studies where the elimination of the gut microbiome through antibiotics resulted in no arthritis or indole production. Manipulating the mice’s diet to reduce tryptophan intake also prevented the development of arthritis. These findings suggest that targeting the production of indoles may offer new therapeutic pathways for treating inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.

The researchers are now focused on exploring ways to maintain the balance of tryptophan breakdown towards the anti-inflammatory pathway and manipulate intestinal bacteria to achieve this goal. The study opens up new avenues for potential treatments and prevention strategies for inflammatory diseases linked to tryptophan metabolism.

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