Stories
Poor Diet Linked To Higher Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk Finds ICMR-NIN Study
- •A study by ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition examined 615 adults in Hyderabad to explore the link between diet quality and rheumatoid arthritis.
- •Participants with rheumatoid arthritis had diets with higher inflammatory potential, lower dietary diversity, and reduced micronutrient adequacy compared to healthy controls.
- •Every one-unit increase in the Dietary Inflammatory Index was associated with a 17 percent increase in the odds of rheumatoid arthritis.
- •Higher dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy were linked to lower odds of having the condition, though the study shows association rather than direct causation.
- •Researchers emphasize that while diet alone does not cause rheumatoid arthritis, maintaining a varied and nutrient-rich diet remains important for overall health.
Key Questions Answered
The study found that adults with rheumatoid arthritis had diets that were less diverse, lower in micronutrient adequacy, and higher in inflammatory potential compared to healthy participants. Specifically, every one-unit increase in the Dietary Inflammatory Index was associated with a 17% increase in the odds of the condition.
Not necessarily. Because the study utilized a case-control design, it established an association between dietary patterns and rheumatoid arthritis rather than proving causation. Researchers noted it is also possible that participants changed their eating habits as a result of having the condition.
Only 50.2% of participants with rheumatoid arthritis had a high dietary diversity score, compared to 74.2% of the healthy control group. Furthermore, researchers found that every one-unit increase in dietary diversity was linked to a 27% reduction in the odds of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
