However, the benefit of antioxidant nutrient supplements like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc is not supported by scientific trials in patients with RA. There is some evidence to suggest that taking fish oil supplements may be useful as an addition to existing treatments for reducing joint pain and stiffness.

The long-chain omega-3 fats found in fish oils, eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA , are reported to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Reviews and meta-analyses of studies that have explored benefit of fish oil and long-chain omega-3 fats in RA have had inconsistent findings. Some studies show that long-chain omega-3 fats may help to reduce joint swelling and pain, morning stiffness, in addition to reducing the amounts of medication for symptom relief that patients need.

Other studies have found that they do not significantly affect the clinical symptoms of RA. Whilst the current UK NICE guidelines for management of RA do not discuss the role of fish oil supplements, their use of appears to be common among RA patients.

However, the optimal dose of long-chain omega-3 fats that may be helpful in relieving symptoms of RA is unclear, and it has been reported that supplementation can take up to three months before symptom relief is experienced.

Whilst there is not enough evidence to routinely recommend omega-3 supplements eating at least one portion of oily fish is included in dietary advice for the general population.

Oily fish such as mackerel, sardines and salmon are the best source of these fatty acids in our diets and contain other nutrients such as vitamin D. Therefore, fish consumption is promoted in patients with RA, in line with general healthy eating recommendations which is to eat at least two portions of fish each week, at least one of which should be oily fish; note pregnant women should not eat more than two portions of oily fish a week.

Several reviews have aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of interventions that restrict certain foods for the treatment of RA and management of its side effects. These include:. However, there is very limited research in this area and the results remain largely unclear.

It is uncertain whether any of these dietary strategies can improve pain and stiffness, and the ability to move better. There may be considerable individual variation, in other words, certain individuals or subgroups may show improvement if they cut out certain foods or ingredients, but many others do not.

Furthermore, some of these diets may be difficult to stick to, and people may lose weight on these diets even though they did not need or plan to. There is no test that currently can identify an individual RA patient that may experience benefit by a change in diet, although offending foods can be identified through an exclusion programme under the supervision of a dietitian, if appropriate.

A number of tests that claim to identify food allergies can be bought on the high street or online but are not recommended because there is little evidence that they work, and they can be expensive. Reduction of pain and inflammation has been reported with fasting and elemental diets.

It is recognised that inflammatory activity is dampened by caloric restriction or reduction in gut involvement, but the results noted after fasting and very restricted diets could also be because of weight loss.

In addition, such diets are not sustainable and carry significant health risks. Fasting is an extreme and temporary way of controlling pain and inflammation in RA and is not recommended.

Symptoms return on resumption of regular diets; thus the benefit may be transient and not have long-term impact on disease activity. Authoritative bodies typically will not suggest cutting out important food groups as this can increase risk of nutritional deficiency.

There has been some suggestion that dairy foods are associated with inflammation, but the evidence is conflicting, and limited to small trials. In the past dairy may have been considered pro-inflammatory, but more recent reviews of the evidence do not support this hypothesis.

Studies of milk and dairy products more typically suggest a neutral or even beneficial effect on levels of inflammatory markers and would not point to an adverse inflammatory effect. Specific dietary guidelines are difficult to define in people living with RA as there are individual differences.

However, as dairy products can play an important part of a healthy, balanced diet, based on the available data, there is no evidence to support exclusion of dairy products unless an intolerance or allergy are shown.

If you think you may have an adverse reaction to milk and dairy products talk to your GP or a health professional involved in your care such as your specialist nurse. Aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and goji berries are all members of the nightshade family.

Some people believe that solanine, one of the alkaloids naturally produced compounds in various plants , contributes to inflammation and pain in arthritis. However, the connection between arthritis and nightshades is largely considered anecdotal. There is a surprising lack of any clinical human studies and so currently there is no scientific evidence that nightshade vegetables make arthritis symptoms worse.

It is also worth noting that solanine is also found in blueberries, apples, cherries, okra and artichokes, none of which is in the nightshade family and not included in anecdotal reports of adverse effects. The fruit and vegetables that contain solanine are rich in nutrients and antioxidants.

However, if you think you may have an adverse reaction to vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes and peppers than talk to your GP or a health professional involved in your care such as your specialist nurse.

Your specialist team or GP may prescribe certain nutrition supplements because they can be useful in preventing the side effects of medications. Folic acid supplements may help prevent some of the side effects of methotrexate, a conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug cDMARD , commonly used in first line management of RA.

The British Society for Rheumatology guidelines recommends a typical folic acid dose of 5mg once weekly, not on the same day as methotrexate also typically taken once weekly. Folic acid reduces toxic effects and improves continuation of therapy and compliance.

Calcium and vitamin D are essential nutrients for bone health and supplements may be prescribed for patients with RA taking glucocorticoids steroids , which can increase the risk of bone loss and osteoporosis.

Steroids may be offered as a short-term treatment to manage flares in people with recent onset or established disease to rapidly decrease inflammation, and to improve symptoms while waiting for a new cDMARD to take effect which can take 2—3 months.

You can find information on food sources of calcium and vitamin D in our resources below. Although laboratory research has suggested that vitamin D may have anti-inflammatory effects, further studies are needed to better understand the role of vitamin D in inflammatory conditions, and currently there is no evidence that vitamin D supplements are of benefit in RA.

Regardless of possible effects on inflammation, it is recommended that all adults take a daily supplement containing 10µg micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter months, when the sun is not strong enough for the body to make vitamin D.

Cooking at home can be an enjoyable experience and can help with eating healthily. However, when movement is restricted activities around cooking including shopping and preparation can be difficult such as lifting grocery bags, opening jars, dicing and slicing and lifting pots.

Some tips are listed below but many more tips can be found on the Versus Arthritis website. If you have a more general query, please contact us. Please note that advice provided on our website about nutrition and health is general in nature. We do not provide any personal advice on prevention, treatment and management for patients or their family members.

If you would like a response, please contact us. We do not provide any individualised advice on prevention, treatment and management for patients or their family members.

Forgot your password? Contact us Press office. Our work Healthy sustainable diets Life stages Health conditions Putting it into practice Training and events Healthy Eating Week News.

Back Our work Who we are What we do Who we work with Why trust us? Impact and reach Support what we do Press office Contact us. Back Healthy sustainable diets Healthy and sustainable diets Starchy foods, sugar and fibre Protein Fat Vitamins and minerals Hydration Nutrient requirements.

Back Life stages Pregnancy Baby Toddlers and pre-school Children Teenagers Students Women Men Older people. Back Health conditions COVID, nutrition and immunity Heart disease and stroke Overweight, obesity and weight loss Cancer risk Type 2 diabetes Bone and joint health.

Back Putting it into practice Some tips to save money on food Make healthier choices Balancing the diet Food labelling Plant-based diets Keeping active Planning Food, seasons and celebrations. Back Training and events On-demand webinars Conference recordings and Annual Lectures Learning activities.

Health conditions Bone and joint health Healthy eating tips for people with arthritis. Learn more about diet and arthritis. Enlarge Text A A. Healthy eating tips for people with arthritis. Osteoarthritis and diet A healthy weight Weight loss is recommended as a core treatment for people who are overweight and obese.

Do talk to your GP or practice nurse about weight loss — they can help. Osteoarthritis and physical activity Painful joints and stiffness can reduce mobility and make it more difficult to be physically active. Should I take supplements for osteoarthritis? Vitamin D Vitamin D is important for building and maintaining overall bone health.

Other supplements like turmeric and fish oils There is generally very limited, conflicting and poor-quality evidence on dietary supplements and complementary treatments such as MSM methylsulfonylmethane , rosehip and curcumin the active ingredient in turmeric supplements used by people living with OA for symptomatic relief.

Healthy dietary patterns for osteoarthritis and more Some research suggests a link between high blood cholesterol and increased risk and progression of OA, although it is unclear whether lowering blood cholesterol will improve OA.

Try to include a variety of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables, higher fibre starchy foods choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions with less added fat, salt and sugar , dairy and dairy alternatives choose lower fat and lower sugar options , as well as beans, pulses, fish, eggs, lean meat and other protein sources.

Avoid unhealthy habits, like smoking and drinking in excess and include regular physical activity. A healthy diet includes plenty of foods containing fibre such as nuts, wholegrains, beans, pulses, fruits and vegetables.

But for cholesterol lowering you may want to also try eating oats and barley, which have a special soluble fibre called beta—glucan which can help to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

Reduce foods high in saturated fats in your diet like sausages, butter, biscuits, cake, pies, pastries and fatty meats, and replace with those containing unsaturated fats mono- and polyunsaturated , like oily fish, avocados, nuts and seeds and small amounts of olive, rapeseed and sunflower oils and unsaturated spreads made from them see image below.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis and diet Diet and inflammation People living with RA often use dietary changes and follow a variety of special diets to try to improve symptoms. What does the research say?

Mediterranean diet UK NICE guidelines recommend that adults with RA who wish to experiment with their diet should be informed that there is no strong evidence that their arthritis will benefit. Rheumatoid arthritis and supplements Antioxidants A diet rich in antioxidants may help to reduce the risk of developing RA and possibly dampen down the inflammatory response in established disease.

Fish oils There is some evidence to suggest that taking fish oil supplements may be useful as an addition to existing treatments for reducing joint pain and stiffness. These include: vegan diets elemental diets liquid diets that contain nutrients that are broken down to make digestion easier fasting elimination diets used to find foods that might be the cause of symptoms However, there is very limited research in this area and the results remain largely unclear.

These include: applied kinesiology a process based on muscle testing Vega test which involves measuring electromagnetic conductivity in the body hair analysis Fasting Reduction of pain and inflammation has been reported with fasting and elemental diets. A quick look at milk and dairy foods There has been some suggestion that dairy foods are associated with inflammation, but the evidence is conflicting, and limited to small trials.

A quick look at the nightshade plant family Aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and goji berries are all members of the nightshade family. Supplements for the side effects of medication Your specialist team or GP may prescribe certain nutrition supplements because they can be useful in preventing the side effects of medications.

They do not help people with rheumatoid arthritis. In general, glucosamine and chondroitin have minimal side effects. Steer clear of glucosamine if you are allergic to shellfish, or consider only glucosamine derived from a vegetable source.

Glucosamine may raise blood sugar. Chondroitin can interact with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs such as warfarin Coumadin and aspirin that can increase the risk of bleeding.

Even if the dietary suggestions don't seem to make a difference with your arthritis, they are all healthy recommendations that will improve your well being and decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke.

People who follow these recommendations also are less likely to develop certain types of cancer. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness , is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School.

Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts.

PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. Sign up now and get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness. Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in?

What is a tongue-tie? What parents need to know. Which migraine medications are most helpful? How well do you score on brain health?

Shining light on night blindness. Can watching sports be bad for your health? Beyond the usual suspects for healthy resolutions. June 5, By: Linda Antinoro, R. Even without all the proof, there are many healthy nutritional ideas that you can consider.

Weight Control This one has lots of evidence behind it. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Dietary fats can influence inflammation, a major factor in rheumatoid arthritis. Saturated and Trans Fats Some studies suggest a possible link between chronic inflammation and saturated fats found in red meats, full-fat dairy foods, butter and poultry skin.

Vitamin D Research studies have linked low blood levels of D with increased risk of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Fruits and Vegetables Brightly colored fruits and vegetables — such as oranges, bell peppers, pumpkins, tangerines and papayas — contain carotenoids called beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin.

The Scoop on Supplements Supplements abound when it comes to arthritis. Benefits Beyond Arthritis Even if the dietary suggestions don't seem to make a difference with your arthritis, they are all healthy recommendations that will improve your well being and decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Share This Page Share this page to Facebook Share this page to Twitter Share this page via Email. Print This Page Click to Print.

Related Content. Staying Healthy. Women's Health. Free Healthbeat Signup Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! Newsletter Signup Sign Up. Close Thanks for visiting.

The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness , is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.

I want to get healthier. Close Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Close Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.