A fasting and vegetarian diet treatment trial on chronic inflammatory disorders.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a vegetarian diet on arthritis and skin diseases, comparing outcomes during a modified fast and a subsequent vegetarian diet period.
Results Summary
During fasting, arthralgia improved in many subjects, and some skin conditions (pustulosis palmaris et plantaris and atopic eczema) showed improvement. However, symptoms returned for most patients during the vegetarian diet, except for some psoriasis cases. Serum lactoferrin levels correlated with symptom changes.
Population
Twenty patients with arthritis and various skin diseases.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
2-week modified fast followed by 3-week vegetarian diet.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
modified fast | decrease | arthralgia | patients with arthritis and various skin diseases | - | was less intense | #1 |
modified fast | decrease | pustulosis palmaris et plantaris and atopic eczema | patients with arthritis and various skin diseases | - | an improvement could be demonstrated | #2 |
vegan diet | increase | both signs and symptoms | patients with arthritis and various skin diseases | - | returned | #3 |
vegan diet | decrease | psoriasis | some patients with psoriasis | - | experienced an improvement | #4 |
- | decrease | concentrations of lactoferrin in serum | most cases | - | fell to normal values | #5 |
- | neutral | improvement or impairment of signs and symptoms | - | - | was related to | #6 |
Twenty patients with arthritis and various skin diseases were studied on a metabolic ward during a 2-week period of modified fast followed by a 3-week period of vegetarian diet. During fasting, arthralgia was less intense in many subjects. In some types of skin diseases (pustulosis palmaris et plantaris and atopic eczema) an improvement could be demonstrated during the fast. During the vegan diet, both signs and symptoms returned in most patients, with the exception of some patients with psoriasis who experienced an improvement. The concentrations of lactoferrin in serum reflect the turnover and activity of neutrophil leukocytes. When this protein was initially increased it fell to normal values in most cases. The improvement or impairment of signs and symptoms was related to the lactoferrin levels in serum.