Posted on 10/20/2025 7:40:21 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Research has found a clear connection between chronic sickle cell disease pain and the bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract.
The researchers focused on Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterium commonly found in the human gut but known to be less prevalent in individuals with sickle cell disease. In the study, the team alleviated chronic pain in mice engineered to have sickle cell disease by transplanting bacteria from the feces of healthy mice into the digestive tract of the sickle cell animals.
"Our results are strong evidence that the contents of the microbiome in individuals with sickle cell might drive chronic pain," Sadler said.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder in which red blood cells become abnormally shaped, like sickles, and rigid. For reasons that are unclear, at least 50% of individuals with sickle cell disease also experience chronic pain.
A. muciniphila is available over-the-counter as a probiotic supplement. Sadler said the group's study is the first to identify the bacterium as a target for sickle cell disease pain.
"We identified Akkermansia because it makes short chain fatty acids, which appear crucial for alleviating sickle cell pain," Sadler said. "Transplanting it into our sickle cell mice almost completely reversed their chronic pain. Interestingly, when we transplanted all bacteria from sickle cell mice to animals without sickle cell disease we transferred the pain with it—not the genetic blood disorder, but the touch and cold hypersensitivity."
Sadler said that changing the contents of the gut can activate nerve endings in the intestine that send signals to the central nervous system.
"What we think happens specifically in these sickle cell experiments is central sensitization," she said. "Everything becomes more sensitive because of a change in the brain or spinal cord."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
That said, soluble fiber in the diet is needed for this and other beneficial probiotic cultures. Men need upwards of 38 grams a day, while women need 28 grams.
You will grow the more beneficial gut bacteria by increasing your soluble fiber intake.
These short chain fatty acids help a variety of bodily processes. My wife and I use keto breads to shore up our daily intake.
personally, I find this hard to believe. Genetic diseases are tough and hard to control and cure. this seems too simple, imho
It doesn’t help anything genetically.
Bkmk
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