<i>Bifidobacterium animalis</i> subsp. <i>lactis</i> Probio-M8 enhances chondroitin efficacy for knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women via the gut-joint axis

The pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its phenotypic expression have been associated with the human gut microbiota. Our study demonstrated that the co-administration of Probio-M8 with chondroitin sulfate significantly alleviates KOA symptoms. This probiotic intervention enhances therapeutic efficacy through modulation of the gut microbiota and associated metabolic pathways, reducing inflammation and improving clinical outcomes. Our results underscore the potential of probiotic-driven therapies as an adjunctive treatment strategy and underscore the importance of the gut-joint axis in KOA management.