Gut Microbiota as a Therapeutic Target for Chronic Pain Disorders

Chronic pain disorders of unknown etiology, including burning mouth syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, and temporomandibular joint disorders, have been demonstrated to result in a substantial reduction in quality of life. These diseases exhibit a discernible gender bias, manifesting with greater frequency in women. The neurobiological underpinnings of these conditions are characterized by a decline in the volume of white matter in the medial prefrontal cortex and alterations in the connectivity of the default mode network. These conditions are frequently linked to impaired function of the central dopaminergic nervous system. The potential mechanisms connecting the gut microbiota to chronic pain disorders may be the decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria in dopamine signaling and the change in estrobolome in estrogen signaling. Consequently, an approach targeting the gut microbiota using probiotics has emerged as a potential treatment for chronic pain disorders.