Familial Mediterranean Fever and Diet: A Narrative Review of the Scientific Literature.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to analyze the correlation between diet, including antioxidants, and clinical outcomes in Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).
Results Summary
The study found that a diet rich in antioxidants and supplements with anti-inflammatory effects could partially reduce symptoms and improve well-being in FMF patients, but no conclusive data were drawn about the impact of diet on symptom triggering.
Population
Patients with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high-fat foods | neutral | FMF attack recurrence | FMF patients | - | evaluated FMF attack recurrence or time between consumption and FMF attacks | #1 |
fatty food intake | no change | FMF attack recurrence | FMF patients | conflicting results | conflicting results have been reported | #2 |
salty food intake | no change | FMF attack recurrence | FMF patients | conflicting results | conflicting results have been reported | #3 |
wheat | neutral | FMF symptom triggering | FMF patients | - | suggested a possible role | #4 |
diet rich in antioxidants | decrease | symptoms | FMF patients | partially | could partially reduce symptoms and improve well-being | #5 |
supplements with an anti-inflammatory effect | decrease | symptoms | FMF patients | partially | could partially reduce symptoms and improve well-being | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease characterized by short acute attacks, with an as yet unknown cause. Several authors have investigated the role of some foods as potential triggers. This narrative review aims to analyze the correlation between diet and FMF clinical outcomes. METHODS: The review was carried out following PRISMA statement guidelines, including all cross-sectional, case-crossover, and trial studies written in English and conducted between 1974 and 2022. RESULTS: Overall, 642 records were identified through PubMed/MEDLINE (292) and Scopus (350), and seven studies were included: three out of seven (43%) studies evaluated FMF attack recurrence or time between consumption of high-fat foods and FMF attacks, while another three (43%) articles variously assessed FMF severity, and one (14%) evaluated the distribution of MEFV mutations. CONCLUSIONS: To date, conflicting results have been reported about fatty and salty food intake and FMF attack recurrence. Moreover, some authors have suggested a possible role of wheat. Finally, a diet rich in antioxidants and supplements with an anti-inflammatory effect could partially reduce symptoms and improve the well-being of FMF patients. Nevertheless, no conclusive data could be drawn about the impact of diet in FMF symptom triggering, and further studies are required to clarify this putative association.