A Low Gluten Diet Suppresses Disease Activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a low gluten diet in the disease activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Methods: Among 109 patients with RA enrolled in this study, 98 patients who completed 16 weeks on a low gluten diet regimen were included in the study. At baseline, we gave the patients the information about gluten-free and gluten-contained foods, and asked them to refrain from the daily gluten consumption during the experimental period. Results: The low gluten diet significantly improved DAS28-CRP and CDAI scores after 16 weeks. The percentages of patients achieving DAS28-CRP and CDAI-defined remission or LDA were significantly increased after 16 weeks. There was a significant increase in the percentage of the responders in EULAR treatment response after 16 weeks. Rheumatoid Factor (RF) but not C-reactive protein was significantly decreased after 16 weeks. When the self-reported level about adherence to the low gluten diet was divided into three categories, a significant decrease in DAS28-CRP, CDAI and RF was detected in the patients with the strict adherence to the low gluten diet. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the strict adherence to a low gluten diet results in the decreased disease activity of RA.