New study links poor diet quality and low nutrient intake to rheumatoid arthritis

Adults with rheumatoid arthritis eat less diverse foods, get fewer essential nutrients, and consume diets that likely cause inflammation, according to a new study from Hyderabad. Researchers at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition studied 615 adults between the ages of 18 and 55 in the city, which included 301 newly diagnosed patients and 314 healthy people. Participants filled out a questionnaire covering 131 food items to track their eating habits.

Diet Findings

The study looked at three main diet measures: inflammatory potential, food variety, and nutrient levels. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had a much higher median inflammatory score of 2.18, compared to 0.37 for healthy individuals. Food variety was also lower in the patient group, where only 50.2% reached a high diversity score, versus 74.2% of the healthy participants. Nutrient adequacy was also much worse among patients, showing a median score of 18.9% against 32.9% for the control group. Each single-point rise in the inflammatory score raised the odds of having the disease by 17%. Conversely, every point gained in food variety lowered those odds by 27%, while a 10% rise in nutrient adequacy cut the likelihood by 12%.

Expert Views

Study supervisor Devraj J. Parasannanavar noted that the results show why doctors must look at overall diet quality instead of single nutrients when studying chronic swelling conditions. ICMR-NIN Director Bharati Kulkarni asked for long-term trials to see if better food habits can stop or change the course of the illness. The research team stated that while the work does not prove a poor diet directly causes the condition, it shows a clear link that needs deeper study. The work is now published in the journal Nutrients.

Context

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term health issue where the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue around the joints, causing pain and swelling. While genes and the environment play a role, looking at everyday food habits helps scientists understand how lifestyle choices connect to chronic illnesses in the Indian population.