Influence of fasting on intestinal permeability and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
We have investigated the influence of fasting and lactovegetarian diet on intestinal and non-intestinal permeability in 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We used low-molecular weight polyethyleneglycols (PEG 400) as probe molecules and a deterministic mathematical model to assess the permeability characteristics. Both intestinal and non-intestinal permeability decreased after fasting, but increased again during a subsequent lactovegetarian diet regime. Concomitantly it appeared that disease activity, as shown by a clinical six-joint score, first decreased and then increased again. The results indicate that, unlike lactovegetarian diet, fasting may ameliorate the disease activity and reduce both the intestinal and the non-intestinal permeability in rheumatoid arthritis.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005215:Fasting; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010539:Permeability; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols