A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

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Rheumatology (Oxford) 2001 Oct;40(10):1175-9

A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of

rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a

reduction in antibodies to food antigens.

Hafstrom I, Ringertz B, Spangberg A, von Zweigbergk L, Brannemark S,

Nylander I, Ronnelid J, Laasonen L, Klareskog L.

Department of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge

University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: Whether food intake can modify the course of rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) is an issue of continued scientific and public

interest. However, data from controlled clinical trials are sparse.

We thus decided to study the clinical effects of a vegan diet free

of gluten in RA and to quantify the levels of antibodies to key food

antigens not present in the vegan diet. METHODS: Sixty-six patients

with active RA were randomized to either a vegan diet free of gluten

(38 patients) or a well-balanced non-vegan diet (28 patients) for 1

yr. All patients were instructed and followed-up in the same manner.

They were analysed at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months,

according to the response criteria of the American College of

Rheumatology (ACR). Furthermore, levels of antibodies against

gliadin and beta-lactoglobulin were assessed and radiographs of the

hands and feet were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients in the

vegan group and 25 patients in the non-vegan diet group completed 9

months or more on the diet regimens. Of these diet completers, 40.5%

(nine patients) in the vegan group fulfilled the ACR20 improvement

criteria compared with 4% (one patient) in the non-vegan group.

Corresponding figures for the intention to treat populations were

34.3 and 3.8%, respectively. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody

levels against gliadin and beta-lactoglobulin decreased in the

responder subgroup in the vegan diet-treated patients, but not in

the other analysed groups. No retardation of radiological

destruction was apparent in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: The data

provide evidence that dietary modification may be of clinical

benefit for certain RA patients, and that this benefit may be

related to a reduction in immunoreactivity to food antigens

eliminated by the change in diet.

Publication Types:

* Clinical Trial

* Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 11600749 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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