Nutrition/Obesity

PROSPERO meta-analysis shows an effect of diet on #RA risk. 8 independent studies (n=270,121) showed a reduced risk of incident RA with Anti-inflammatory (OR 0.56; 0.31–0.99), Mediterranean (OR 0.88; 0.78–0.99), and HEI (OR 0.60; 0.25–1.47), but not DASH diets https://t.co/Qr9lXWRAED
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels and Lupus Outcomes

MedPage Today

Lupus patients entering a prospective cohort study with low vitamin D levels faced doubled all-cause mortality risk and tripled risk for major cardiovascular events during follow-up averaging 6 years, researchers said.

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Treating During Pregnancy (11.14.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal articles, news and guidelines from this past week on RheumNow.com

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Weight Loss as a Therapeutic Goal in PsA PsA is a complex inflammatory disease often complicated by obesity, which not only worsens disease activity but also impairs treatment response. At #ACR25, 3 compelling studies spanning pharmacologic, lifestyle, and longitudinal https://t.co/Q6IFGn5zCI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Accelerated Aging in Rheumatic Disease: From Biology to Lifestyle Intervention At #ACR25, the session “27M02: Nutrition for Rheumatic Disease: Where Aging Biology, Sarcopenia, and Diet Intersect” invited the audience to view rheumatic disease through the lens of biological https://t.co/OIgh8JQsFa
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
GLP-1 and SGLT-2: Treatments Too Good to Ignore? Dr. Peter Nash reviews several studies presented on GLP-1s at #ACR25. He recommends for review abstracts: 0841, 0849, 1027, 2685, 0165, 0233 and 2658. https://t.co/OclO05bpku https://t.co/kASID9jnAP

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Cush and Kavanaugh

ACR 2025 Rheumatology Round Up

Jack Cush, MD

Drs. Jack Cush & Arthur Kavanaugh, two of rheumatology’s most trusted voices, provide a breakdown of the latest breakthroughs and hottest topics in rheumatology from the 2025 ACR Convergence meeting in Chicago.

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ACR25 Best Abstracts - Day 4

Jack Cush, MD

Here's the last installment of our "ACR Best" abstracts as chosen by the RheumNow faculty.  Most of these were from the final, day 4, but a few were noteworthy holdovers from day 3. Enjoy!

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GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in PsA: Mortality and MACE https://t.co/GtTGHY7j5g @synovialjoints discussed TriNetX data base looking at GLP-1 medications effect on MACE in PsA patients. @RheumNow #ACR25

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Nouf Al hemmadi @NoufAhmedAlham2( View Tweet )

In a PsA cohort (n=1291), higher BMI was independently linked to lower odds of achieving MDA—especially in TNFi-treated patients. Impact was strongest in pain, skin, enthesitis, and PRO domains, not swollen joints. Each unit increase in BMI reduced MDA odds by 4–7%. Highlights https://t.co/TxO3HP51uk

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Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
Abstract 2687: GLP-1 RA in PsA In combined Toronto + NYU cohort, GLP-1 RA significantly associated with reduced: - Weight, CRP, and pain scores - Each 1% reduction in body weight associated w/ TJC, DAPSA, EQ-5D (QoL), LDL, Systolic BP @RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/30lPDkALKs

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Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )
Biologic choice in PsA: consider factoring in obesity ⚖️ Abstract 2691: In a longitudinal cohort study, obesity associated with ↓ odds of achieving minimal disease activity (MDA) among pts on TNFi, but not with other DMARDs @RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/p4KaH6HKYj

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Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )
Abstract 2690: Food as a Medicine Mediterranean vs low-calorie DASH vs control diet in PsA (multicenter RCT): 🔹 All 3 groups showed significant weight loss & DAPSA by wk 24 🔹 Weight loss not diet type may be the driver of clinical improvement @RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/rBS3HR1HXl

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Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )
#2660 In >8000 women, serum urate rose sharply during the menopausal transition, then plateaued after menopause. Hyperuricemia reached 4-5% post-menopause, up to 18% in obesity or low eGFR. Healthy body weight & kidney function pre-menopause may decrease HU later @RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/v6ai3lgAd2

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Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )
In PsA patients, GLP-1 RA therapy led to significant weight loss and improvements in CRP, pain, lipids, and blood pressure. PsA outcomes improved proportionally with weight loss. Regression analyses revealed that each 1% reduction in body weight was associated with significant https://t.co/Pph1PjfOve

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Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
#2658 In >870k adults with T2DM or obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists showed no increase in autoimmune or inflammatory disease risk, and were instead linked to lower mortality, heart failure, stroke and dementia. Excellent real-world safety signals. @RheumNow #ACR25

Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )

#ACR25 Clinical Preview by Prof Coates for use now: GLP-1 agonist & Diet Abstr#813 GIP/GLP-1 improved MSK pain Abstr#849 GLP-1 reduced risk of #MACE in PsA Abstr#2690 RCT = the degree of weight loss regardless specific dietary strategy determined benefit in PsA @RheumNow https://t.co/4jB0fFHosC

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Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
Does diet matter in PsA? Randomized study comparing advice, DASH low calorie, Mediterranean diet Seems that weight loss corresponds better with benefit than diet. BMI reduction remains focus in PsA Laura Coates #ACR25 meeting review @RheumNow https://t.co/CqR25sJdDc

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David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
Nice to see a Dietary intervention study in the "Top Abstracts That Will Change My Practice in the Near Future" by L. Coates for Year in Preview Small RCT but fibres significantly improve response to treatment in the MTX treated RA group with a mean reduction of DAS28 of https://t.co/vMeIAK1P5u

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
The DIPSA study: can diet improve PsA? Finally a RCT, and the general message is Loose weight, regardless of the diet! 3 arms: -Mediterranean diet 31pts -Low-calorie Dietary Approaches (DASH-LC) 30pts -Standard of care 31pts Primary outcome change in DAPSA wk 12 DASH-LC https://t.co/XH9Xdn0g96

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Scale,weight

Weight Loss as a Therapeutic Goal in Psoriatic Arthritis

Antoni Chan, MD, PhD

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex inflammatory disease often complicated by obesity, which not only worsens disease activity but also impairs treatment response. At ACR Convergence 2025, three compelling studies spanning pharmacologic, lifestyle, and longitudinal observational data

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#ACR25 Abstr#LB15 Tell #RA patients on methotrexate that eating high fibre diet is good for them! An RCT showed improved EULAR response vs PBO. Likely due to restoration of Th17/Treg balance @RheumNow https://t.co/NbwQFqJNho

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Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
Gut microbiome on Urate metabolism study- 1500 men and women. From 3 cohorts- Framingham, nurses health and men's lifestyle with blood and stool data Focused on 5 urate metbolizing genes Abst#2590 #ACR25 @RheumNow https://t.co/YxBb3WfcbB

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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
Semaglutide isn’t just for weight loss? In RA, users had 20–40% lower risk of synovitis, stiffness & swelling up to 1 year vs matched controls. GLP-1 agonists may offer anti-inflammatory benefit beyond metabolism. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract#2286

Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )

In case you have a (gut) feeling something’s off… Abstract 2315: The gut microbiome in #SpA 🔬 ⬆️ Proteobacteria (incl. Escherichia spp) ⬇️ Firmicutes (“good” bacteria) Higher disease activity ↔️ lower alpha diversity @RheumNow #ACR25

Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )

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Puzzle pieces
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stack of blocks

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