Proposed Anti-Inflammatory Diet Reduces Inflammation in Compliant, Weight-Stable Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

• Background: It is unclear to what extent adjuvant dietary intervention can influence inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objectives: The objective was to assess the effects of dietary manipulation on inflammation in patients with RA. Methods: In a crossover design, participants [n = 50, 78% females, median BMI (in kg/m2) 27, median age 63 y] were randomly assigned to begin with either a 10-wk portfolio diet of proposed anti-inflammatory foods (i.e., a high intake of fatty fish, whole grains, fruits, nuts, and berries) or a control diet resembling a Western diet with a 4-mo washout in between. This report evaluates the secondary outcome markers of inflammation among participants with stable medication. Analyses were performed using a linear mixed ANCOVA model. Results: There were no significant effects on CRP or ESR in the group as a whole. In those with high compliance (n = 29), changes in ESR within the intervention diet period differed significantly compared with changes within the control diet period (mean: -5.490; 95% CI: -10.310, -0.669; P = 0.027). During the intervention diet period, there were lowered serum concentrations of C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) (mean: -0.268; 95% CI: -0.452, -0.084;P = 0.006), CXCL5 (mean: -0.278; 95% CI: -0.530, -0.026 P = 0.031), CXCL6 (mean: -0.251; 95% CI: -0.433, -0.069; P = 0.009), and tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14) (mean: -0.139; 95% CI: -0.275, -0.002; P = 0.047) compared with changes within the control diet period. Conclusion: A proposed anti-inflammatory diet likely reduced systemic inflammation, as indicated by a decreased ESR in those who completed the study with high compliance (n = 29). These findings warrant further studies to validate our results, and to evaluate the clinical relevance of changes in CXCL1, CXCL5, CXCL6, and TNFSF14 in patients with RA. © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

anti-inflammatory diet

biomarkers of inflammation

diet intervention

inflammation

Rheumatoid arthritis

Western diet

biological marker

C reactive protein

carbohydrate

CXCL1 chemokine

epithelial derived neutrophil activating factor 78

glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor

granulocyte chemotactic protein 2

herpesvirus entry mediator ligand

saturated fatty acid

adult

antiinflammatory activity

Article

berry

body mass

body weight

caloric intake

clinical article

clinical evaluation

controlled study

crossover procedure

DAS28

diet composition

diet therapy

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

exploratory research

female

fish

gastrointestinal symptom

human

leukocyte

male

middle aged

nut

outcome assessment

protein blood level

randomized controlled trial

sensitivity analysis

therapy effect

waist hip ratio

whole grain

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)