Ideal food pyramid for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A narrative review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the ideal dietary approach for managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including the role of eggs in the recommended diet.
Results Summary
The study constructed a food pyramid for RA patients, recommending 2 portions of eggs weekly as part of a balanced diet to counteract inflammation. No adverse effects or specific benefits of eggs were detailed.
Population
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Effective Dosage
2 portions per week.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
diet | neutral | rheumatoid arthritis | - | - | plays an important modulatory role | #1 |
diet | neutral | inflammation | - | - | affects | #2 |
diet | neutral | antigen presentation | - | - | affects | #3 |
diet | neutral | antioxidant defense mechanisms | - | - | affects | #4 |
diet | neutral | gut microbiota | - | - | affects | #5 |
ideal dietary approach | decrease | counteracting inflammation | patients with RA | - | reduce | #6 |
personalized supplementation (vitamin D and omega 3) | neutral | - | subjects with RA | - | need | #7 |
Emerging literature suggests that diet plays an important modulatory role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because diet is an environmental factor that affects inflammation, antigen presentation, antioxidant defense mechanisms and gut microbiota. Patients with RA frequently ask their doctors about which diets to follow, and even in the absence of advice from their physicians, many patients are undertaking various dietary interventions. Given this background, the aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence to date regarding the ideal dietary approach for management of RA in order to reduce the counteracting inflammation, and to construct a food pyramid for patients with RA. The pyramid shows that carbohydrates should be consumed every day (3 portions of whole grains, preferably gluten free), together with fruits and vegetables (5 portions; among which fruit, berries and citrus fruit are to be preferred, and among the vegetables, green leafy ones.), light yogurt (125 ml), skim milk (200 ml), 1 glass (125 ml) of wine and extra virgin olive oil; weekly, fish (3 portions), white meat (3 portions), legumes (2 portions) eggs (2 portions), seasoned cheeses (2 portions), and red or processed meats (once a week). At the top of the pyramid, there are two pennants: one green means that subjects with RA need some personalized supplementation (vitamin D and omega 3) and one red means that there are some foods that are banned (salt and sugar). The food pyramid allows patients to easily figure out what to eat.