The influence of fast and vegetarian diet on parameters of nutritional status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Nutritional status was studied over a period of 13 months in 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Seventeen patients fasted for 7-10 days, were then transferred to a gluten-free vegan diet for 3.5 months and finally to a lactovegetarian diet for 9 months. The remaining 17 patients followed a "normal" diet. After one month, the values for body mass index (BMI) and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) were significantly reduced in the diet group compared with the values at inclusion (p < 0.001), whereas upper arm muscle area (UAMA) was not significantly reduced. Evaluation of the whole study course revealed a significantly lower BMI (p = 0.04) and TSF (p < 0.01) in the diet group compared with the control group. The concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) was significantly reduced in the diet group after one month compared with the value at inclusion (p = 0.01), but the overall difference between the two groups was not significant. There were no overall significant differences with regard to VAMA, concentration of serum albumin, haemoglobin, ferritin, zinc and copper between the two groups. Thus fast, followed by diet manipulations for one year, had a minor impact on nutritional status in patients with RA.

Nutrient intake patterns, body mass index, and vitamin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

“…Seventy-nine patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (formerly the American Rheumatism Association) revised criteria for RA were evaluated (24). Enrollment criteria included disease duration 2 6 months, onset after age 16 years, and at least 3 of the following symptoms: 3 or more swollen joints, 6 or more tender joints, morning stiffness of 245 minutes in duration, and an ESR 2 2 8 mm/hour. Exclusion criteria included serious concomitant medical illnesses and abnormal liver enzymes or complete blood cell count levels.…”

“…Fasting and vegetarian diets have been shown to have a beneficial effect on disease activity (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Kjeldsen-Kragh et a1 used a subtotal fast for 7 to 10 days, followed by a gluten-free vegan diet for 3 to 5 months and then a lacto-vegan diet in a single-blind controlled trial (15).…”

<p>Effects of Plant-Based Diets on Weight Status: A Systematic Review</p>

“…19 Most studies consisted predominantly of female participants, of which either all were women 11,12,20,29,30 or had a percentage of female participants between 62% and 89%. 16,17,[22][23][24][25][26]31,32 Besides 1 five-armed trial presented in two different articles, 26,31 the included studies compared a plant-based intervention diet and a standard omnivore diet. The larger part applied a low-fat vegan or vegetarian diet intervention, while the rest applied other plant-based variations.…”

Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dietary Interventions

“…With the increasing evidence of altered microbiota in the gut of RA patients being responsible for pathogenesis as well as disease progression ( 26 , 28 , 33 ), it should be desirable for rheumatologists to advocate a supplemental “diet therapy” to RA patients. Various dietary plans for RA have been reported since long ( 34 ) and are being repeatedly projected ( 35 – 39 ), such as medically supervised 7–10 days fasting ( 40 – 43 ), vegan ( 44 – 47 ) or Mediterranean diets (MDs) ( 48 ). We hereby discuss the reported dietary interventions that clearly indicate clinically and statistically significant and beneficial long-term effects for relieving symptoms, delay in disease progression and associated damages in RA patients.…”