Research paper
To eat or not to eat—an exploratory randomized controlled trial on fasting and plant-based diet in rheumatoid arthritis (NutriFast-Study)
Study answer
What this study found
Primary endpoint (HAQ-DI change to 12 weeks) did not differ between groups (p = 0.663). Within-group improvements were faster with fasting+PBD (HAQ-DI improved by day 7) and later with the control diet. DAS28 improved in both groups by 12 weeks. ACR50 or higher responses were higher with fasting+PBD (9/25) vs control (3/25) by week 12. Weight loss favored fasting+PBD (about 4–5 kg by week 6 and ~3.9 kg by week 12) compared with ~0.8 kg in the control group. Vitamin B12 declined in fasting and PBD arms. Lipids and fasting glucose improved by 3 months in both groups. Conclusion: Fasting…
- Study & population
- Open-label, monocentric, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, explorative clinical trial in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Intervention
- 7-day fasting with daily energy intake of 300–350 kcal via vegetable juices and vegetable broth, followed by an 11-week plant-based diet incorporating time-restricted eating and anti-inflammatory spices.
- Key limitation
- Open-label, single-center design; small sample size; COVID-19–related recruitment constraints prevented reaching planned enrollment; baseline HAQ-DI differed between groups; predominantly female participants; limited generalizability to men or more vulnerable patients; no long-term follow-up; variations in…
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
Background Fasting is beneficial in many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with lasting effects for up to 1 year. However, existing data dates back several decades before the introduction of modern therapeutic modalities. Objective This …