A so-called Mediterranean diet high in cereals, vegetables, legumes, fruits and olive oil appears to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study reported in the March issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

A Swedish research team carried out a randomized controlled trial over three months in which the Mediterranean diet was compared with an ordinary Western diet in 56 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Those consuming a Mediterranean diet experienced a significant improvement after three months in various assessments used to measure inflammatory activity, physical function and vitality.
No significant improvements were seen in the group that consumed a Western diet.

The researchers concluded that the traditional Mediterranean diet seems to be able to suppress disease activity in patients who have stable and modestly active rheumatoid arthritis in the short term, but noted whether this would occur over a longer term remains to be seen.

Researcher Lars Sköldstam, of Kalmar County Hospital in Sweden, said a Mediterranean diet is recommendable to all westerners. "We all tend to grow around our waists," he told Medical Week. "This is a risk factor not only for hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes type 2, but as it seems also for rheumatoid arthritis."

Although not all of the study participants who consumed a Mediterranean diet were fond of it, Sköldstam said the diet is palatable to most who try it and is richer in all critical nutrients than ordinary western diets.

Other sources: Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, 2003;62:208-214