The Role of Nutrition in the Development, Management, and Prevention of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comprehensive Review

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, with key features being synovial hyperplasia, autoantibody production, and ultimately cartilage and bone destruction. The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not fully understood, but it is estimated that genetic factors account for 50-60% of the risk, with the remainder attributed to environmental factors, including infectious agents, smoking, gut microbiota, and diet. Given that most current clinical trials on RA and nutrition are limited in sample size and duration, there is an unmet need for higher-quality studies in the future, a need that EULAR has already recognized. Objective: This article aims to investigate the impact of diet and nutritional factors on the development, progression, and potential prevention of RA. Specifically, it provides a comprehensive review of certain foods, such as alcohol, gluten, red meat, and saturated and trans fats, and their contribution to the onset and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, it examines the effect of key anti-inflammatory nutrients in reducing the risk of RA, including olive oil, fatty fish, juices, and certain fruits. Finally, it discusses the potential protective effects of certain dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet (MD) and diets rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, and Scopus databases (1990-2025). English-language observational studies, clinical trials, and systematic reviews addressing the relationship between diet and dietary patterns and RA were included. Results: High consumption of red and processed meat, saturated and trans fats, sugary drinks, and gluten (in vulnerable individuals) is associated with increased RA risk and greater disease activity, partly through pro-inflammatory pathways and gut dysbiosis. In contrast, regular intake of olive oil, fatty fish rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, fruit juices, cocoa, certain fruits, and vitamin D appears protective and may reduce disease activity and symptom severity. Adherence to anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet and diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is consistently associated with a lower incidence of RA, reduced inflammatory markers, and improved clinical outcomes. However, most available studies are limited by small sample sizes, short duration, heterogeneous methodologies, and potential confounding by other lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, obesity). Conclusions: Although an appropriate diet and dietary habits cannot replace pharmacological therapy, current knowledge supports the inclusion of an anti-inflammatory diet as an adjunct strategy in the prevention and management of RA. The relatively limited studies that have been conducted suggest that high-quality, large-scale, prospective studies are needed to prevent and treat RA. These studies should incorporate genetic, microbiome, and long-term clinical endpoints, so as to establish definitive dietary recommendations and allow for personalized nutritional interventions for patients with RA.