title: [Nutritional status of Danish patients with rheumatoid arthritis and effects of a diet adjusted in energy intake, fish content and antioxidants].
abstract: This study deals with the nutritional status of Danish rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and addresses the question whether or not RA can be directly influenced by dietary manipulation. In a prospective, single-blinded study of six months' duration, 109 patients with active RA were randomly assigned to treatment with or without a specialized diet. The energy consumption was adjusted to normal standards for body-weight and the intake of fish and antioxidants was 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, the number of swollen joints, the pain status and reduced the cost of medicine, while doctors' global assessment, laboratory data, X-ray and the daily activities were unaltered. In conclusion, dietary analysis and appropriate, corrective advice should be offered to Danish RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Reumatologisk afdeling, Kong Christian X's Gigthospital, Gråsten.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kluger
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Thysen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Emmertsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stengård-Pedersen
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003718:Denmark; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004045:Dietary Services; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005396:Fish Products; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004044:Dietary Proteins
vernacular_title: Ernaeringstilstanden for danske patienter med reumatoid arthritis og virkningen af en kost der korrigeres for energiindhold, fisk og antioxidanter.