New meta-analysis suggests abnormal gut bugs impact autoimmune diseases
This paper concludes "Across the included studies, there was a recurring pattern of dysbiosis - notably decreased microbial diversity, reduced abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus), and enrichment of pro-inflammatory taxa like Ruminococcus gnavus and Prevotella species".
"The meta-analysis revealed that microbiota-directed interventions significantly improved disease activity and immune response markers in AIDs, indicating a robust link between gut microbiota composition and autoimmune pathology. In autoimmune disorders, gut microbiota is a key factor in immunopathology. Gut biology as an adjunct interventional strategy provides potential in managing these diseases. Additional studies are required to help standardize methods and identify microbial targets specific to diseases that can then be addressed through therapeutic interventions".
And "For RA, interventions such as probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus species demonstrated improvements in DAS28 scores and inflammatory markers [31]. In MS, reduced abundance of SCFA (short chain fatty acid) producing bacteria and altered metabolic pathways were documented, impacting immune regulation and disease progression".
This is an open access paper, see Vineesh, A. et al. Exploring the Relationship Between Gut Health and Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus (2025). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.89300