Study on fasting & plant-based nutrition for rheumatoid arthritis

Anika M. Hartmann et al.

November 2022

Other fasting

Rheumatism / Joints / Arthritis / Arthrosis

The study compared the effects of a 7-day fast followed by a plant-based diet (PBD) with the effects of a diet recommended by the German Nutrition Society (DGE) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity, cardiovascular risk factors and well-being. 53 RA patients were randomly assigned to either the Fast/PBD group or the DGE diet group.

While the primary endpoint, the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), showed no statistically significant difference between the groups, the HAQ-DI improved rapidly in the fasting group by the seventh day and remained stable over 12 weeks. Disease activity scores improved in both groups by week 12, with more patients in the fasting group achieving a higher degree of improvement. Cardiovascular risk factors, including weight, improved more in the fasting group.

Overall, both dietary approaches had a positive effect on RA disease activity and cardiovascular risk factors, although fasting followed by a PBD showed no additional benefits in terms of function and disability compared to the DGE diet at 12 weeks.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Rheumatoid arthritis
Institution: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Title: Study on the effect of fasting and a plant-based diet on rheumatoid arthritis
Brief description: The study shows that fasting with a plant-based diet reduces cardiovascular risk factors and improves disease activity levels.
Original title: To eat or not to eat-an exploratory randomized controlled trial on fasting and plant-based diet in rheumatoid arthritis (NutriFast-Study)
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36407522/