Low-Fat Vegan Diet may bring Relief from Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

About 1 in 200 people in the U.S. have rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused when the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body’s joints. It is more common in women and causes symptoms such as swelling, stiffness and pain.

Doctors have linked rheumatoid arthritis to diet for decades. The aches and pains caused by rheumatoid arthritis appear to be connected to what we eat. Common rheumatoid arthritis trigger foods include grains with gluten, nuts, citrus and chocolate. A 2017 survey of 217 patients with the condition found that 19% said certain foods, such as sugary soda and sweets, made their symptoms worse.

A 2021 review of research found positive results for the Mediterranean diet, high doses of omega-3 fatty acids (which are found in fish oil), vitamin D supplements, and cutting out salt. 

A new study in women suggests that adopting a low-fat vegan diet and then getting rid of trigger foods may bring relief within months, possibly by helping patients to quickly shed weight. 

After participants were on the low-fat vegan diet for 16 weeks, their average number of swollen joints dipped from 7 to just more than 3, and they reported better overall symptoms. And average body weight fell by a whopping 14 pounds. 

It is not clear if the lost weight is more responsible for the diet’s benefits than the actual foods, says Harvard Medical School rheumatologist Daniel Solomon, MD. Another possibility is that certain parts of the diet – and not the full diet – were responsible, he says.

Even though there is uncertainty about the effectiveness of the diet, patients are encouraged to try changing their eating patterns before turning to medication.