title: Nutritional status of Danish rheumatoid arthritis patients and effects of a diet adjusted in energy intake, fish-meal, and antioxidants.
abstract: This study deals with the nutritional status of Danish RA patients and address the question of whether or not RA can be directly influenced by dietary manipulation. In a prospective, single-blinded study of 6 months duration, 109 patients with active RA were randomly assigned to either treatment with or without a specialized diet. The energy consumption was adjusted to normal standards of body weights and the intake of fish meals and antioxidants were increased. A daily food diary was completed by the patients, and the total intake of 47 different food-elements was calculated. Nutritional status together with disease activity parameters were recorded. At baseline, the Danish RA-patients had neglected food habits with a significant reduction in intake of total energy, of D-vitamin and of E-vitamin. A very low intake of n-3 fatty acids was also found. During the study, 28 of the 109 patients dropped out, introducing a confounding effect on the overall result. In the remaining 81, those following the diet demonstrated a significant improvement in the duration of morning stiffness, number of swollen joints, pain status, and reduced cost of medicine, while doctors global assessment, laboratory data, X-ray, and daily activities were unaltered. In conclusion, dietary analysis and appropriate, corrective advice should be offered to Danish RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, King Christian X's Hospital, Graasten, Denmark.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kluger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thysen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Emmertsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stengaard-Pedersen
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015930:Diet Records; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids