It is an autoimmune disease that affects between 0.5 and 1% of the adult population: rheumatoid arthritis. She “manifests initially most often by painful stiffness and swelling of several joints, generally in the wrists, hands and fingers”, explains Inserm, which emphasizes that all joints can be affected. Subsequently, it evolves “in the form of flare-ups, interspersed with more or less complete remissions”. If this disease is still incurable, certain treatments However, it is possible to fight against it.
Researchers from the European Alliance of Rheumatology Associations (EULAR) questioned the benefits of a lifestyle change to improve patients’ daily lives. They noticed that following a plant-based diet, practicing physical activity and learning to to manage stress helped improve the quality of life of patients. Their results are published in the British Medical Journal and were presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR), which takes place in Austria.
A plant-based diet, physical activity and stress management reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
To achieve these results, researchers conducted a randomized test on 77 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Called Plants for Joints (PFJ), this experiment included different lifestyle measures to follow alongside treatment. This included a whole-food, plant-based diet, practicing a physical activity and learning to manage stress. The duration of this trial was 16 weeks.
The researchers measured the participants’ pain levels using the “28 Joint Disease Activity Score”, also called “DAS28”. Afterwards, the researchers followed the participants’ health for two years, offering interventions to help them follow these habits. In addition, participants who had a DAS28 score below 2.8 were offered a reduction in drug treatments under the supervision of their rheumatologist.
Rheumatoid arthritis: these changes could be effective in the long term
In total, 62% of participants who followed the 16-week protocol agreed to be followed for two years. The researchers found that following a whole-food, plant-based diet, engaging in physical activity and knowing how to manage stress led to lasting improvements in the DAS28 score. The researchers note that “39 participants who completed their follow-up and were using disease-modifying antirheumatic medications, 44% were able to reduce or stop their treatment, 26% stabilized it and 31% increased it.” Among people who saw their treatment stay the same or be reduced, 65% saw their DAS28 improve.
Also, the researchers note in their conclusions that “the significant improvements in disease activity observed after the Plants for Joints intervention were maintained for up to two years, while on average, medication was reduced slightly.” According to the authors of the study, “These results indicate that intensive lifestyle changes can be effective in the long term.”
Sources :
- op0330-hpr long-term effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention for rheumatoid arthritis: two-year follow-up after the “plants for joints” randomized clinical trial – BMJ.
- The impact of lifestyle intervention in rheumatoid arthritis – European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)
- Rheumatoid arthritis – A model disease for research into chronic inflammation –
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm)
