Diet studies suggest possible benefits in inflammatory arthritis, with uneven evidence
A review of randomized trials reported encouraging rheumatoid arthritis findings, but differences between studies prevented a pooled estimate and long-term clinical benefits remain uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review reported improvements in rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, inflammatory markers and quality of life with several dietary patterns. Evidence was more limited for axial spondyloarthritis, while psoriatic arthritis findings involved a combined dietary intervention. These results suggest possibilities for supporting medical care, but do not establish one effective nutritional strategy across these different conditions.
Studies differed enough in design, interventions and outcomes that the authors could not pool them statistically. The abstract does not give comparison diets, effect sizes or follow-up durations, and longer-term clinical efficacy remains unconfirmed.
Diet patterns and supplements differed
Vegan, Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory diets were linked to improvements in rheumatoid arthritis. Supplements also showed effects on inflammatory or immune measures, while probiotic and synbiotic results varied; such biomarker changes should not be treated as interchangeable with symptom relief.
Evidence varied by diagnosis
The psoriatic arthritis result involved a lower-calorie diet combined with omega-3 supplementation, so it cannot isolate the diet's contribution. For axial spondyloarthritis, the abstract describes limited evidence and only potential benefits from polyunsaturated fatty acids.
The original publication
Nutrition and diet in rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review.
Van den Bruel K, Kulyk M, Neerinckx B et al.
Front Med (Lausanne) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41030267
- Record checked
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