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Diet and Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms: Survey Results From a Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry
Author(s) -
Tedeschi Sara K.,
Frits Michelle,
Cui Jing,
Zhang Zhi Zack,
Mahmoud Taysir,
Iannaccone Christine,
Lin TzuChieh,
Yoshida Kazuki,
Weinblatt Michael E.,
Shadick Nancy A.,
Solomon Daniel H.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
arthritis care and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.032
H-Index - 163
eISSN - 2151-4658
pISSN - 2151-464X
DOI - 10.1002/acr.23225
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , interquartile range , cohort , body mass index , physical therapy , disease
Objective Patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) often ask whether specific foods, popularized as inflammatory or antiinflammatory, can improve or worsen their RA . Patients with RA took a survey on diet and RA symptoms, and the survey data were collected and analyzed. Methods A dietary survey was mailed to 300 subjects in a single‐center RA registry at a large academic center. Subjects were asked about their consumption of 20 foods and whether these foods make their RA symptoms better, worse, or unchanged. Semiannual registry data include demographics, medications, comorbidities, and disease activity scores. Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon's rank sum tests evaluated associations between subject characteristics from the most recent registry assessment and changes in RA symptoms from specific foods. Results Of the 217 subjects (72% response rate), 83% were female; the median RA duration was 17 years (interquartile range 9–27 years), and 58% were taking a biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug. Twenty‐four percent of subjects reported that foods affect their RA symptoms, with 15% reporting improvement and 19% reporting worsening. Blueberries and spinach were the foods most often reported to improve RA symptoms, while soda with sugar and desserts were those most often reported to worsen RA symptoms. Younger age and noting that sleep, warm room temperature, and vitamin/mineral supplements improve RA were each associated with reporting that foods affect RA symptoms. Medication use, sex, body mass index, smoking, disease duration, disease activity scores, and self‐reported RA flares were not associated with reporting that foods affect RA . Conclusion Nearly one‐quarter of RA subjects with longstanding disease reported that diet had an effect on their RA symptoms.