Effect of Plant-Based Diets on Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Nutritional Science
• Systematic Review

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing joint inflammation and damage.
• Dietary interventions, particularly plant-based diets, are explored for their potential impact on RA symptoms and disease activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on the effects of various plant-based diets on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• To synthesize findings regarding the influence of diets like Mediterranean, low-fat high-carbohydrate, anti-inflammatory, and vegan on RA disease activity and clinical markers.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane).
• Included studies were observational or interventional, focused on adults, published in English (Feb 2013-Apr 2023), and assessed for risk of bias using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists.
• Fifteen studies (4 cross-sectional, 2 cohort, 9 RCTs) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Adherence to plant-based diets generally correlated with reduced RA disease severity.
• Improvements were observed in dietary intake, physical activity, body weight, and clinical markers (DAS-28, VAS, HAQ-DI, ESR, CRP).
• The Mediterranean diet was frequently associated with positive effects on RA severity.

Conclusions:

• Plant-based diets, especially the Mediterranean diet, may positively influence rheumatoid arthritis (RA) severity.
• Heterogeneity among studies necessitates further high-quality randomized controlled trials.
• More research is crucial to understand diet's role in RA and inform prevention strategies.