Nutritional Approaches to Modulate Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Cardiology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents a bimodal mortality pattern, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) being a significant contributor.
• SLE patients face elevated CVD risk due to traditional factors (obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension) and non-traditional factors (inflammation, hyperhomocysteinemia).

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the therapeutic potential of nutritional approaches in managing CVD risk factors in SLE patients.
• To explore how specific nutrients may modulate immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-cardiometabolic risk properties relevant to SLE comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• Critical literature review of existing research on SLE, CVD risk factors, and nutritional interventions.
• Analysis of studies investigating the impact of nutrients on traditional and non-traditional CVD risk factors in the context of SLE.

Main Results:

• Several nutrients possess properties that could reduce SLE severity and organ damage.
• Nutritional interventions may help decrease the development of both traditional and non-traditional CVD risk factors in SLE.

Conclusions:

• Nutritional approaches offer therapeutic potential for managing CVD comorbidities in SLE.
• Modulating nutritional status could be a key strategy to improve the long-term prognosis of SLE patients by reducing cardiovascular risk.