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ICMR Study Links Diet To Arthritis And Reveals Five Early Warning Signs To Watch For
- •A recent study by ICMR and NIN reveals that adults with rheumatoid arthritis have less diverse diets, lower micronutrient adequacy, and more inflammatory diets compared to healthy individuals.
- •The study tracked 615 adults and found a significantly higher dietary inflammatory index score among rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- •Morning joint stiffness that lasts for thirty minutes to an hour is a key early sign of arthritis.
- •Persistent joint pain during physical activities like climbing stairs or gripping objects should not be ignored.
- •Other early warning signs include unexplained joint swelling, reduced range of motion, and a grinding or clicking sensation known as crepitus.
Key Questions Answered
The study found that adults diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis consumed less diverse diets, experienced lower micronutrient adequacy, and had diets with greater inflammatory potential compared to healthy adults. Specifically, rheumatoid arthritis patients had a median dietary inflammatory index score of 2.18, whereas healthy controls scored 0.37.
The case-control study tracked a total of 615 adults aged between 18 and 55 years old in Hyderabad. This group included 301 individuals who were newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis alongside 314 healthy control participants.
Early signs of arthritis include morning joint stiffness that lasts for thirty minutes to an hour, persistent joint pain during routine activities like climbing stairs, and mild swelling or warmth around a joint. Additional warning signs involve a reduced range of motion and a grinding or clicking sensation known as crepitus.
