US scientists conducted a meta-analysis of studies studying the effect of diet on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. They found that, based on current evidence, no single dietary intervention has significant benefits for people with these conditions.
Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMS) are a range of conditions that affect people's joints, cause pain, disability, and reduce health-related quality of life. While for some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, there are effective pharmacological treatments that limit the progression of the disease, for others, like osteoarthritis, medications can only relieve symptoms. Research has shown that lifestyle changes, including diet, can reduce the risk of developing many chronic diseases and benefit mental health.
In a meta-analysis, the authors examined 24 systematic reviews and 150 original articles investigating the association between diet exposure and SMZ, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and gout. A total of 83 dietary components were studied during the studies, including vitamin D, vitamin B12, fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids, argan oil, pomegranate and cherry juice, calcium, green tea extract and fortified milk powder.
The researchers concluded that none of the dietary interventions studied to date had a significant impact on outcome in people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. However, they noted that due to the small number of studies published on other SMZs, more dietary impact assessments are needed. Current research indicates that dietary interventions may not have much effect on health outcomes in these conditions. The scientists noted that further studies of dietary intake in SMZ should aim for higher methodological reporting standards and include long-term follow-ups. (READ MORE)