Back pain: the cause may be in the intestine

Back pain affects almost everyone at one time or another and is one of the most important causes of sick leave. There are many causes for back pain, from emotional stress to poor posture or a sedentary lifestyle. Another much less well-known possible cause that contributes to pain may be the alteration of the intestinal microbiota.

When the intestinal microbiota is altered inflammatory processes can develop that emerge in the form of back pain. Dysfunctional gut microbiota (dysbiosis) can also cause back pain through other mechanisms.

Back pain and dysbiosis

A Australian study analyzed the composition of the intestinal microbiota in a group of overweight people. Half of the participants had no discomfort, but the other half had complained of back pain in the previous month. Eating habits and physical activity levels were similar for all participants.

A greater number of intestinal bacterial strains of the families Adlercreutzia, Roseburia and Christensenella in participants with back pain, compared with participants without back pain. Adlercreutzia bacteria in particular were found much more frequently in the pain patients than in the pain-free group. It was also observed that the higher the body mass index of those affected, the more frequently Adlercreutzia occurred.

Intestinal bacteria: when they cause pain and when they are healthy

Of course, the Adlercreutzia bacterium is not bad, since it is found in most people. Only an excessive population seems to produce a unfavorable, pro-inflammatory and pain-intensifying effect. However, in normal amounts, the bacteria can have a very positive effect, such as breaking down the isoflavones in soy products.

When the Adlercreutzia bacterium multiplies too much, the levels of some amino acids in the blood drop, such as proline and alanine. Both are important for bone health. This may be one of the reasons for the increased tendency to back pain among the study participants.

A very high Adlercreutzia count is also associated with above average levels of adipsin and leptin. Both hormones, which are produced in fatty tissue, can promote back pain.

The intestinal flora influences the intensity of pain

Previous studies have already shown that the intestinal flora, depending on its composition, can contribute to pain and inflammatory processes. This can be explained by the existence of the so-called gut-brain axis. Both organs are permanently connected to each other by different processes.

According to studies carried out with animals, the microbiota can modify the function and structure of the brain regions related to the perception of pain, which could help to understand the relationship between the microbiota and pain. People with altered microbiota could be more susceptible to chronic pain.

Leaky Gut Syndrome Promotes Pain

On the other hand, a microbiota disorder can also attack the intestinal mucosa barrier, impairing its functionality and can lead to leaky gut syndrome more or less pronounced, which is related to chronic inflammatory processes and possibly also to the development of pain.

These mechanisms from an apparently innocuous disorder of the intestinal flora can cause chronic inflammatory diseases, such as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac disease or colon cancer. They may also be related to diseases that are not located directly in the intestine, such as rheumatism (arthritis), other autoimmune diseases or back pain.

Treatment of back pain through the care of the microbiota

If the gut microbiota disorder is corrected, inflammatory processes can be slowed down and back pain is probably alleviated.

The microbiota is a very complex system that can only be modified to a certain extent. It develops from the moment of birth depending on food and other environmental factors. But you can take steps to promote your health. The main one is to reduce the consumption of refined foods, excess fats and proteins of animal origin, and increase the consumption of vegetable fiber, especially inulin (asparagus, garlic, onions, leeks, bananas, etc.). In addition, you can take probiotic foods (unpasteurized yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi, kombucha, etc.) and exercise.

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