Abstract
Arthritis encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases characterised by inflammation that leads not only to joint damage, bone erosion, severe pain and disability, but also affects other organs of the body, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Although the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of joint diseases are for the most part unknown, a number of nutrient and non-nutrient components of food have been shown to affect the inflammatory process and, in particular, to influence clinical disease progression. The Mediterranean diet model has already been linked to a number of beneficial health effects: both fat and non-fat components of the Mediterranean dietary pattern have been shown to exert important anti-inflammatory activities by affecting the arachidonic acid cascade, the expression of some proinflammatory genes, and the activity of immune cells. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular, have been shown to affect lymphocyte and monocyte functions, crucially involved in adaptive and innate immunity. Although some aspects concerning the mechanisms of action through which the Mediterranean diet pattern exerts its beneficial effects remain to be elucidated, arthritis patients may potentially benefit from it in view of their increased cardiovascular risk and the treatment they require which may have side effects.
Highlights
SummaryArthritis encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases characterised by inflammation that leads to joint damage, bone erosion, severe pain and disability, and affects other organs of the body, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality
Over the last 50 years growing attention has been focused on the role that certain foods play in the development and progression of chronic diseases
Many of the anti-inflammatory effects of the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) are linked to the intake of foods that are rich in PUFAs with a lower n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio and extra-virgin olive oil which, with its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and non-fat microcomponents such as phenolic compounds, has been found to have important anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo
Summary
Arthritis encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases characterised by inflammation that leads to joint damage, bone erosion, severe pain and disability, and affects other organs of the body, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of joint diseases are for the most part unknown, a number of nutrient and non-nutrient components of food have been shown to affect the inflammatory process and, in particular, to influence clinical disease progression. The Mediterranean diet model has already been linked to a number of beneficial health effects: both fat and non-fat components of the Mediterranean dietary pattern have been shown to exert important anti-inflammatory activities by affecting the arachidonic acid cascade, the expression of some proinflammatory genes, and the activity of immune cells. Some aspects concerning the mechanisms of action through which the Mediterranean diet pattern exerts its beneficial effects remain to be elucidated, arthritis patients may potentially benefit from it in view of their increased cardiovascular risk and the treatment they require which may have side effects
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