Decrease in anti-Proteus mirabilis but not anti-Escherichia coli antibody levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with fasting and a one year vegetarian diet.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a vegetarian diet could reduce Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli antibody levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assess its impact on disease activity.
Results Summary
The vegetarian diet significantly reduced anti-proteus antibody levels in RA patients, correlating with decreased disease activity, while no significant changes were observed in E. coli antibody levels or in patients on an omnivorous diet.
Population
53 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
One year
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vegetarian diet | decrease | mean anti-proteus titres | patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | - | significant reduction | #1 |
omnivorous diet | no change | anti-proteus titre | patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | - | no significant change | #2 |
vegetarian diet | decrease | anti-proteus titre | patients who responded well to the vegetarian diet | greater | decrease | #3 |
vegetarian diet | no change | total IgG concentration | all patient groups | - | almost unchanged | #4 |
vegetarian diet | no change | levels of antibody against E coli | all patient groups | - | almost unchanged | #5 |
vegetarian diet | decrease | proteus antibody levels | patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | - | decrease | #6 |
vegetarian diet | decrease | modified Stoke disease activity index | patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | - | decrease | #7 |
OBJECTIVE: To measure Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli antibody levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during treatment by vegetarian diet. METHODS: Sera were collected from 53 RA patients who took part in a controlled clinical trial of fasting and a one year vegetarian diet. P mirabilis and E coli antibody levels were measured by an indirect immunofluorescence technique and an enzyme immunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: The patients on the vegetarian diet had a significant reduction in the mean anti-proteus titres at all time points during the study, compared with baseline values (all p < 0.05). No significant change in titre was observed in patients who followed an omnivorous diet. The decrease in anti-proteus titre was greater in the patients who responded well to the vegetarian diet compared with diet non-responders and omnivores. The total IgG concentration and levels of antibody against E coli, however, were almost unchanged in all patient groups during the trial. The decrease from baseline in proteus antibody levels correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with the decrease in a modified Stoke disease activity index. CONCLUSION: The decrease in P mirabilis antibody levels in the diet responders and the correlation between the decrease in proteus antibody level and decrease in disease activity supports the suggestion of an aetiopathogenetic role for P mirabilis in RA.