Western Diet Increased the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis Save

Liu and coworkers from Boston presented abstract #1213, with data from the NHS II Survey. They examined 93,859 women (without RA) and their dietary data from 1991 to 2011.  Diets were categorized as prudent (diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, poultry and fish) or Western diets (high in red and processed meat, refined grains, fried food, high-fat dairy and sweets).

With 1,509,033 person-years of follow-up, 626 new RA developed at a mean age of 49 yrs. A reduced risk (up to 30%) of RA,  was associated with a prudent pattern diet, while a Western pattern was associated with an increased risk (over 50%) of RA.  After adjustment for BMI, the associations were attenuated.