Although dietary factors have been extensively studied in many chronic diseases, the role of diet in the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has received little attention. Fruit and vegetables and dietary antioxidants are thought to play a protective role in the pathogenesis of CVD and some cancers, but few studies have investigated these dietary components in the aetiology of RA.Fish oil supplementation has consistently been shown to have a beneficial effect on the symptoms of established RA, but it is not known whether the PUFA present in fish oils can reduce the risk of developing the disease. There is evidence that RA is less severe in the southern Mediterranean countries, such as Italy and Greece, where oil-rich fish, fruit, vegetables and olive oil are consumed in greater amounts than in many other countries. Overall, the evidence for a role of diet in the aetiology of RA is limited to a small number of observational studies of very different designs. Recently, it was demonstrated that lower intakes of fruit and vegetables and dietary vitamin C are associated with an increased risk of developing inflammatory polyarthritis in a free-living population in Norfolk, UK. These findings provide further evidence for a role of diet in the development of inflammatory arthritis, although the mechanisms involved are uncertain.
Pattison DJ, Symmons DP, Young A. Does diet have a role in the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis? Proc Nutr Soc. 2004 Feb;63(1):137-43. View Abstract View Full Paper
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Regarding diet and rheumatoid authritis, my mother suffered from this back in the 1970’s and she did find that keeping off wholemeal wheat helped reduce the inflammation.
Of possible interest also, she was on a fairly low dose of prednisolone. After initially being given a higher dose she developed the parchment skin and moonface. It was early days in my nutritional knowledge but I did find that B5 (pantothentic acid), Vitamin C and a probiotic got rid of these side effects fairly quickly. She did continue with the B5 and C for her remaining years even on the lower dose of prednisoline and never suffered a return of the above side-effects.
No connection with diet, but I did take her to a clinic in Southampton where a doctor was having some success by following up 20 years of research by a scientist who believed that one cause of R.A. could be the limax amoieba which was parasiting joints. He was giving metronidazone in fairly high doses to kill off the amoiba. Plus nutrients and healing. The lady running the clinic was one success story: she used to have to be carried around but was walking, albeit somewhat stiffly, after his treatment.
I hope this may be of interest.
Anne Donelan