title: Lower Healthy Eating Index-2005 dietary quality scores in older women with rheumatoid arthritis v. healthy controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the dietary quality of older women with and without rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) to identify potential strategies to improve the nutritional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional. Diet was assessed using 7 d food records and analysed for nutrient composition (Food Processor v. 7.11). Diet quality was determined using the HEI-2005, a measure of compliance with 2005 US Dietary Guidelines. Individuals with RA completed a self-reported evaluation of arthritis (pain scale and disability index). Independent two-tailed t tests or Mann-Whitney tests compared the differences between groups and correlations were computed between HEI-2005 and measures of disease reactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arizona, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Older (> or = 55 years) women (n 108) with RA (n 52) and healthy controls (HC; n 56).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between groups in age, weight, or BMI (kg/m2). HC participants had higher mean HEI-2005 scores for whole fruit (cups; P = 0.02), total fruit (cups; P = 0.05), whole grains (oz; P = 0.004), oil (g; P = 0.05) and total HEI score (P = 0.04) than the RA group. In the RA group, these same HEI components were inversely correlated with disability index (r = -0.20, P = 0.04). Participants with RA reported lower mean intakes of carbohydrate (g; P = 0.02), fibre (g; P = 0.01) and vitamin C (mg; P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study examining the dietary quality in older women with and without RA using the HEI-2005. Living with RA was associated with significantly lower dietary quality. Since even small changes in dietary quality can translate into better nutritional status, future interventions should focus on increasing dietary quality in this high-risk group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University, 7350 E. Unity Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA. Mgrimstv@asu.edu
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Grimstvedt
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woolf
authors.forename: Brandy-Joe
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Milliron
authors.forename: Melinda M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Manore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015930:Diet Records; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid