Diet

Plant-Based Diet May Alleviate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

A plant-based diet may mediate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms, according to a new review.

“Medications are a mainstay of treatment, but have unwanted side effects or are often expensive. Thus, changes in diet might be an easy and economical intervention in the management of RA,” the review authors wrote.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, READ MORE...

5 Questions About Mechanistic Differences in Biologic Agents for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Possible Omalizumab-Induced Arthritis

As part of their review, the authors analyzed previous studies that evaluated the association between diet and RA. By doing so, the reviewers were able to make the following determinations:

  • Plant-based diets may reduce inflammation.
  • Plant-based diets may reduce RA pain and swelling.
  • Plant-based diets are associated with a lower body mass index (BMI).
  • Plant-based diets promote healthy gut bacteria.

Previous research has shown that diets that included animal products hindered RA management efforts and worsened symptoms, while diets that were high in vegetables, fruits, and fiber were associated with improvement in RA symptoms and outcomes.

“The naturally low-fat, fiber-rich components of a vegan diet might mediate the pathways that alleviate joint inflammation and pain, as observed through reduced [C-reactive protein] levels and improved inflammatory scores,” the review authors wrote.

In addition to having anti-inflammatory effects, a plant-based diet may influence weight loss, which in turn could lead to improved symptoms and outcomes among individuals with RA.

According to the reviewers, previous studies demonstrated that individuals with RA who are overweight have worse outcomes compared with their counterparts with a normal BMI. The weight loss that a vegan or vegetarian diet can spur may mitigate the effects of inflammation and obesity in RA.

The authors also determined that individuals who followed a plant-based diet may have improved gut bacteria composition and increased bacterial diversity, which could reduce inflammation and joint pain. 

“Further research is needed to test the effectiveness of plant-based diets on joint pain, inflammation, and quality of life in patients with RA,” the authors concluded.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Alwarith J, Kahleova H, Rembert E, et al. Nutrition interventions in rheumatoid arthritis: the potential use of plant-based diets. A review [published online September 10, 2019]. Front Nutr. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00141.