Relationship between diet and ankylosing spondylitis: A systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Nutritional Science
• Systematic Review Methodology

Background:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease.
• The potential impact of diet on AS pathogenesis and progression is of significant patient and clinical interest.
• Existing research on diet and AS is fragmented and requires synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the relationship between diet and ankylosing spondylitis.
• To assess if dietary patterns differ between AS patients and controls.
• To investigate diet's association with AS severity and the efficacy of dietary interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Searches conducted across Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases.
• Independent study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction by two authors.

Main Results:

• Sixteen studies (9 observational, 7 intervention) were included.
• Significant heterogeneity in study designs and analyses precluded data aggregation.
• Evidence linking diet to AS is limited and inconclusive due to study size, bias, and reporting.

Conclusions:

• The current body of evidence regarding diet's role in ankylosing spondylitis is insufficient.
• High-quality, well-reported studies are necessary to establish any definitive dietary links or therapeutic benefits for AS.
• Further research is warranted to clarify the impact of diet on AS onset, severity, and management.