Let Food Be Thy Medicine: The Case of The Mediterranean Diet in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Exploring Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease mainly affecting the peripheral diarthrodial joints symmetrically and also presenting many extra-articular manifestations. Morbidity and mortality in RA patients are higher compared to the general population. Cardiovascular (CV) disease is one of the most common causes of death in these patients. Classical or traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis development occur more frequently in RA patients compared to those without this condition. Studies have showed that RA patients often present comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and obesity. However, the high incidence of CV events occurring in RA patients is not explained by the presence of traditional risk factors. Systemic inflammation, as it is expressed with the presence of proinflammatory cytokines and increased acute phase reactants, may contribute to the development of premature atherosclerosis in these patients. In this review, we explore the risk factors for CV disease, the generation of dyslipidemia, the lipid paradox and the role of systemic inflammation in the atherosclerotic process in RA. We discuss also the role of early therapeutic intervention that suppresses inflammation which may have beneficial effects on CV disease in RA patients.

Effect of Crocus sativus (Saffron) Intake on Top of Standard Treatment, on Disease Outcomes and Comorbidities in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Synthesis without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) and Level of Adherence to the CONSORT Statement for Randomized Controlled Trials Delivering Herbal Medicine Interventions

Rheumatic diseases (RDs) are often complicated by chronic symptoms and frequent side-effects associated with their treatment. Saffron, a spice derived from the Crocus sativus L. flower, is a popular complementary and alternative medicine among patients with RDs. The present systematic review aimed to summarize the available evidence regarding the efficacy of supplementation with saffron on disease outcomes and comorbidities in patients with RD diagnoses. PubMed, CENTRAL, clinicaltrials.gov and the grey literature were searched until October 2021, and relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were screened for eligibility using Rayyan. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane’s Risk of Bias-2.0 (RoB) tool. A synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) was performed by vote counting and an effect direction plot was created. Out of 125 reports, seven fulfilled the eligibility criteria belonging to five RCTs and were included in the SWiM. The RCTs involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and evaluated outcomes related to pain, disease activity, depression, immune response, inflammation, oxidative stress, health, fatigue and functional ability. The majority of trials demonstrated some concerns regarding overall bias. Moreover, the majority of trialists failed to adhere to the formula elaborations suggested by the CONSORT statement for RCTs incorporating herbal medicine interventions. Standardization of herbal medicine confirms its identity, purity and quality; however, the majority of trials failed to adhere to these guidelines. Due to the great heterogeneity and the lack of important information regarding the standardization and content of herbal interventions, it appears that the evidence is not enough to secure a direction of effect for any of the examined outcomes.

Mediterranean diet in axial spondyloarthritis: an observational study in an Italian monocentric cohort

Background

Little evidence is available about the impact of diet on disease activity of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). This study evaluated the impact of a 6-month nutritional advice based on the Mediterranean diet on the disease activity of axSpA.

Methods

We prospectively collected the information of a group of axSpA patients who were offered nutritional advice for a 6-month period, who were compared to axSpA patients followed at the same center who were not on a specific diet. A nutritionist gave suggestions for dietary modification at baseline and thereafter every 2 months until month 6. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated with the PREDIMED questionnaire ranging from 0 (no adherence) to 10 (optimal adherence); disease activity was evaluated with ASDAS-CRP. A multivariable regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors of PREDIMED and of ASDAS-CRP improvement (improvement ≥ 20% of each score).

Results

A total of 161 patients were included: 81 receiving nutritional advice and 80 controls; 47 in the nutritional group and 63 controls had complete information until month 6. Overall, 40 (36.4%) were females, the mean age was 51.7 ± 1.3 years, and 58 (52.7%) were affected with psoriasis. No relevant change of anthropometric or laboratory measures was observed in either group. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was moderate (PREDIMED score 6.7 ± 1.8 at baseline; 7.6 ± 2.1 at month 6) and improved more in the nutritional group compared to controls (p = 0.020). Predictors of a PREDIMED improvement ≥ 20% were receiving nutritional advice (OR 4.53, 1.36–15.1, p = 0.014), age (per 10-year increase OR 1.05, 1.02–1.68, p = 0.007), and BMI (OR 0.77, 0.63–0.9, p = 0.006). An ASDAS-CRP improvement ≥ 20% was more frequent in the nutritional group compared to controls (p = 0.020). A PREDIMED improvement ≥ 20% was associated with a ASDAS-CRP improvement ≥ 20% (OR 6.75,1.8–25.3, p = 0.005). Psoriasis and disease duration were negatively but not significantly associated to the ASDAS-CRP improvement.

Conclusions

Improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet may have a beneficial impact on the activity of axSpA. Patients with a lower BMI and older patients are less prone to modify their diet towards the Mediterranean diet following nutritional advice. Patients with psoriasis may have a limited benefit from dietary improvement.

Study registration

Protocol No. 52723, Padova Hospital Medical Ethical Committee (October 11, 2010).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-021-02600-0.

Disease Activity, Functional Ability and Nutritional Status in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Observational Study in Greece

AIM

The aim of the present pilot study was to assess differences in the nutritional status, Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence, and functional ability among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to disease activity.

METHODS

A total of 48 patients with RA, outpatients of a hospital in Athens, Greece were recruited. Disease activity was evaluated with DAS28, functional status with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), MD adherence with the MedDietScore and malnutrition with the patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA).

RESULTS

A relationship was noted between DAS28 and HAQ, indicating a reduced functional status with increased RA activity. Although MD adherence differed between DAS28 categories, no specific differences were noted in the PG-SGA or the MedDietScore in the post-hoc analyses. According to the PG-SGA, no need for nutritional intervention was noted among participants.

CONCLUSIONS

The origin of the participants might have reduced the differences between MD adherence and DAS28. In parallel, the PG-SGA does not appear sensitive in detecting muscle-related malnutrition among patients with RA.