Does microbiome composition drive osteoarthritis?

A standard American-like diet caused osteoarthritis in mice by changing the composition of the gut microbiome and subsequently increasing inflammation. The osteoarthritis was reversed by a prebiotic, called oligofructose.

Just reducing inflammation with the prebiotic was enough to protect joint cartilage from degeneration, supporting the idea that inflammation and not just biomechanical forces drive osteoarthritis and joint degeneration.