Micronutrients Deficiencies in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that predominantly involves synovial joints and affects up to2% of adults worldwide. Poor nutrient status in RA patients has been reported and some drug therapies, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to alleviate RA symptoms, may increase the requirement for some nutrients and reduce their absorption. The importance of micronutrients in this disease is related to their cofactor role in immune system functions and in different metabolic processes in articular tissues. Dietary interventions can assist with the management of disease symptoms that accompany RA, such as pain, tender swollen joints, stiffness, and associated disability and disease progression. This paper reviews the scientific evidence for the role of diet and nutrient supplementation in the management of RA, by alleviating symptoms or decreasing progression of the disease