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Nutrition for Arthritis

From "Arthritis Foundation", for more details, please visit the website.

Diet and Your Arthritis

A Look at the Research

Can the foods you eat cause or affect your arthritis? That's one of the most common questions people with arthritis ask. Because symptoms of arthritis can vary from day to day, it is natural to think that what you ate yesterday caused or reduced the pain you feel today.

Researchers have looked at the roles diet may play in arthritis. There are some scientific reasons to think that the foods you eat could affect certain kinds of arthritis. Evidence shows that excessive weight and the type of diet you follow may influence symptoms of certain types of arthritis and related conditions.

However, all persons with arthritis, young and old, can benefit from eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. This includes a variety of foods; plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products; and sugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat found in animal products) in moderation. Taking the recommended daily amounts of vitamins and minerals also is an important part of a healthful diet. A good diet promotes overall health and helps to control weight.

What We Already Know

Research has shown several connections between food, nutritional supplements (vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids) and certain forms of arthritis or related conditions, such as gout (GOWT), osteoporosis (ah-stee-oh-po-RO-sis), osteoarthritis (ah-stee-oh-ar-THRY-tis), rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, (ROO-ma-toyd ar-THRY-tis) and reactive arthritis.

How Researchers Test Diets

To determine the effects of a particular diet on arthritis, researchers divide people who have arthritis into two groups at random. One group follows a diet containing the food or foods being studied; the other group follows a diet without those kinds of foods. Neither group of participants is told which food is being tested. Both groups follow their diets for a number of weeks while adhering to their regular medical treatment programs throughout the study.

Researchers measure the changes, such as decreased swelling in joints, in each study participant and compare the total changes between the two groups to determine if the tested diet made a difference. The study is then repeated three or four times with other groups of people to see if the results are similar. Only after such a series of tests do the researchers consider the test results conclusive and the diet treatments effective.

Unproven Diet Claims

Today, there are many claims that special diets, foods or supplements can cause or cure arthritis. Many of these claims generate a lot of publicity. The idea that there are simple answers to complicated autoimmune diseases is very appealing. Unfortunately, most claims for cure-all diets or nutritional supplements have not been scientifically tested to determine if they work and if they are safe. The scientific studies associated with these claims are often incomplete and may be harmful instead of beneficial.

Some diets and supplements promoted as arthritis cures are outright frauds; others simply haven’t been sufficiently tested. Some of the specific diets that are known to have harmful side effects include those that rely on large doses of alfalfa, copper salts or zinc, or the so-called immune power diet or the low-calorie/low-fat/low-protein diet.

Questions About Diet Claims

When you hear diet claims in the treatment of arthritis, ask the following questions:

• Does the diet eliminate any complete group of foods from the Food Guide Pyramid?
• Does the diet stress only a few foods or eliminate others?
• Does following the diet have any potentially harmful effects?
• Does the diet have scientific evidence, rather than personal testimonies to support it?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions, it is probably an unproven diet.

Trying a Change in Diet

You should be suspicious of any diet that claims to treat or cure arthritis. If such a diet existed, you can be sure your doctor would know about it and recommend the diet to you.

Still, many people believe their arthritis is linked to what they eat, and they are tempted to try various kinds of diets and supplements. If you think something in your diet makes your arthritis better or worse, talk to your doctor and a dietitian. Continue your regular medical care for arthritis even if you decide to try a diet change.

Guide to a Healthy Diet

Because there are more than 100 types of arthritis and related diseases, no single diet will help everyone. However, doctors strongly recommend that people with arthritis or related conditions follow a diet based on variety, balance and moderation. A balanced diet can help you feel better and stay

healthy; prevent chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease; and be a positive step toward managing your arthritis.

Good nutrition can be a challenge. People with certain kinds of arthritis may have difficulty preparing foods because of joint pain, swelling, limited mobility and fatigue. Some arthritis medications may lessen appetite and cause stomach upset. Pain and the depression that can accompany chronic illness also can affect a person's appetite or eating habits.

Certain kinds of arthritis and some of the medications doctors prescribe also can affect how well your body uses what you eat. For example, glucocorticoids used to treat rheumatoid arthritis can cause your body to lose potassium and retain sodium. Some antacids, which may be taken to reduce stomach irritation, also contain high levels of sodium, calcium and magnesium. It is important to know this if you have kidney problems, which can make it harder for your body to regulate these important minerals.

Methotrexate, used for RA, myositis (my-o-SY-tis) and psoriatic arthritis (sore-ee-AAH-tick ar-THRY-tis), can lower levels of folic acid. Having a folic acid deficiency may predispose you to methotrexate toxicity.

Talk to your physician about how the medications you take affect your nutritional status and whether a vitamin supplement may be useful for you.

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Guidelines for a Healthy Diet*

• Eat a variety of foods, and avoid those that can interact with your medications.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Use fat and cholesterol in moderation.
• Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products.
• Use sugar and salt in moderation.
• Drink alcohol in moderation.

Take in the daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, including calcium.

The Food Guide Pyramid

The Food Guide Pyramid developed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services illustrates how to follow dietary guidelines and make wise food choices. Select most foods from the bottom two levels of the pyramid (whole grains/cereals, fruits and vegetables) and fewer foods from the top (fats, oils and sweets), based on the recommended number of servings. Eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups to help provide all the nutrients your body needs each day.

Following the Food Guide Pyramid will help you eat a balanced diet with moderate amounts of sugar, sodium and saturated fat. It also will help you get the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight.

The Food Labeling Act

Since 1994, a comprehensive nutrition label has been required for most food products. Although some packages did list ingredients in the past, there were no standards for comparing one food with another. The current label required by the Food Labeling Act helps you make smart choices for a healthier diet.

The Food Labeling Act also set new guidelines for health claims a food manufacturer can make. Claims like "fat-free," "cholesterol-free," "low-sodium" and others are now defined by government standards. The list below defines these and other claims:

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