Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic systemic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the spine and sometimes extends to other joints. It can lead to fusion of the vertebrae. It’s thought to be an autoimmune disease which means there may be dietary changes that can positively affect it. Because it is systemic, it can affect other parts of the body, such as the heart and lungs. It can even affect the uvea which is a layer of the eye. This can turn into uveitis which is pain and redness of the eye, and sometimes blurred vision. 

When you do some digging on the internet on diets that seem to benefit ankylosing spondylitis, you’ll find that a lot of people report that a low starch diet can help. It turns out that there is a bacteria called Klebsiella pneumoniae that has been implicated as a trigger for ankylosing spondylitis (Rashid & Ebringer, 2006). Unfortunately, this bacteria tends to be resistant to antibiotics. It is important to note that this bacteria is normal to have in your gut, it is only when it proliferates that it becomes problematic. How do we keep it from proliferating? Take care of the gut and avoid foods that feed the bacteria. It turns out that Klebsiella can be isolated from vegetables such as radishes, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes (Science Direct, 2022). Perhaps this explains why low starch diets tend to help. Interestingly enough, it has also been shown that oregano oil can have antimicrobial effects on gram-negative bacteria such as Klebsiella (Chaudhry et al., 2007). For further reading on dietary triggers of autoimmune disease, check out this blog. 

Fusion of the spine will greatly reduce your mobility so it is vital to keep active and maintain as much spinal mobility as tolerated. Here are some exercises that may be helpful:

Lower Trunk Rotation

Thoracic Rotation

Spinal Rotation with Pec Stretch

Cat Stretch

Blood tests such as C-reactive protein will be positive when in an acutely flared up state. This is a test that you can order online. 

References:

Chaudhry NMA, Saeed S, Tariq P. Antibacterial effects of oregano (origanum vulgare) against gram negative bacilli. Pak J Bot 2007;39(2):609-613.

Klebsiella. Klebsiella - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/klebsiella 

Rashid T, Ebringer A. Ankylosing spondylitis is linked to Klebsiella--the evidence. Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Jun;26(6):858-64. doi: 10.1007/s10067-006-0488-7. Epub 2006 Dec 21. PMID: 17186116.