Does the microbiome play a role in systemic lupus erythematosus?

Maybe. Some studies report a connection between the gut microbiome and SLE.^[1] While research in this area is still emerging, it is possible that dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut bacteria associated with disease) may provoke the immune system dysfunction that contributes to SLE symptoms.^[2] Case-control studies that compare the gut microbiome of healthy people to those with SLE do, in fact, find some differences in the balance of bacterial species present, potentially due to SLE itself and/or the medications used to treat SLE.^[3] However, more research is needed to discern whether or not interventions aimed at modulating the gut microbiome (e.g., specific probiotics, fermented foods, certain diets) can effectively treat SLE symptoms.