CME - Vegan diet may lower risk for atherosclerosis in patients with RA

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Vegan Diet May Lower Risk for Atherosclerosis in Patients With

Rheumatoid Arthritis CME

Release Date: March 25, 2008; Valid for credit through March 25, 2009

Credits Available

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

Describe the effect of a gluten-free vegan diet on total cholesterol,

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein

cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

levels, and body mass index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Describe the effect of a gluten-free vegan diet on atheroprotective

antibodies against phosphorylcholine in patients with rheumatoid

arthritis.

March 25, 2008 — A vegan diet was effective in reducing the risk for

atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to

the results of a small, randomized trial published in the March 18

Online First issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy.

" The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vegan

diet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on blood lipids

oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and natural atheroprotective

antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PCs), " write Ann-Charlotte

Elkan, from Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital

Huddinge in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues. " Earlier, we have shown

that a gluten-free vegan diet during 1 year significantly reduced

disease activity and decreased levels of antibodies to beta-lacto

globulin and gliadin in patients with RA. "

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Read the rest of the CME article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571943

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Not an MD