Because of all the interest in finding an "arthritis diet", the National Research Centre for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology in Norway attempted a study comparing different diets. The diets were fasting, vegetarian or vegan, Mediterranean, or elemental (liquid diets containing broken down nutrients). The study had almost 900 participants with rheumatoid arthritis in fifteen different trials, but no conclusions about the diets could be made one way or the other. The researchers found that compliance with the diets was difficult and most participants lost weight, which could have contributed to some pain relief on its own. There was also a concern about nutrient intake as well as concerns about interactions with medications.
Much like with any ailment, there is a belief that by sticking to a certain diet people who have arthritis can ease their pain, bring back joint mobility and, according to some diet claims, possibly regrow some cartilage. The reality is that there is no conclusive one way or another that a specific diet does any better in reducing the effects of arthritis then the basic recommendation to eat healthy and balanced meals, try to exercise as much as you are capable, and manage your stress.
The concept of an "arthritis diet" is very interesting since they're changing the content of an individual's dietary intake and how that correlates to the amount of pain they suffer from arthritis. Technically since the patients are on a diet they should lose weight and that should relieve stress and pain. I think that a combination between diet and exercise will work best. It is definitely important to find more efficient ways of relieving pain for arthritis patients.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how much I buy into the idea of an "arthritis diet," especially after the findings in the posted study. A good balance of nutritional foods is good you in general and labeling a healthy diet as a means to reduce arthritic pain seems fallacious. This is especially true when I comes to liquid/elemental diets which just seem way to over-the-top. The very act of eating is thought to generate positive feelings and other responses that could aid in mental health (and we all know from seeing placebo studies that the mind can greatly influence the body).
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree that exercise is a great way to prevent many bodily aliments. Yet many of the best exercise methods (highest calorie burning) revolve around running, weight lifting, and other activities that can be strenuous on the joint before or after arthritis has struck.
I think that as we discussed in class, many people with this disease are desperate to improve their symptoms and pain that they are willing to try anything -- and many of them are looking for a simple cure (ie. a specific diet which will improve all of their symptoms). Unfortunately, that just is not possible right now. I'm really glad you posted this because after one of the lay articles we discussed in class (the one about the possible arthritis diets) I was very curious if any of them actually worked. The Mediterranean diet in particular the lay article claimed was pretty helpful, so I'm glad to know that there was really no significant difference with any of them.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to agree with everyone in saying that an overall balanced diet and exercise regiment(if the patient is able) would probably be the most helpful to people with arthritis, especially because loosing weight if they are overweight may help reduce some stress on the affected areas.
I believe there are other diets out there that haven't been as publicized as the ones mentioned in this post.
ReplyDeletePaleo Diet: a diet built from modern foods that emulate the foods of our pre-agricultural ancestors: Meat, fish, fowl, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and nuts. On the flip-side we see an omission of grains, legumes and dairy.
There is considerable evidence that the Paleo diet can alleviate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms (joint pain). The diet eliminates certain food substances called lectins – which are able to cross the gastrointestinal barrier and enter circulation, where they may be able to interact with the synovial tissue that is impacted in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
(from the Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf)
testimonials of the successes of the Paleo Diet on Arthritis
ReplyDeletehttp://thepaleodiet.com/archives/3047