Omega-3s lower rheumatoid arthritis risk, says new study

          

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                 Ann Rheum Dis doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203338

Long-term intake of dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study of women

 Daniela Di Giuseppe1, Alice Wallin1, Matteo Bottai2, Johan Askling3, Alicja Wolk1

+ Author Affiliations

 1Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

 2Division of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

3Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Correspondence to Professor Alicja Wolk, Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden; Alicja.Wolk@ki.se

Published Online First 12 August 2013

 Abstract

 Objectives

To analyse the association between dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in middle-aged and older women from the Swedish Mammography Cohort, a population-based prospective study.

 Methods

Data on diet were collected in 1987 and 1997 via a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The risk of RA associated with dietary long-chain n-3 PUFAs and fish intake was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for age, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, use of aspirin and energy intake.

Results

 Among 32 232 women born 1914–1948, 205 RA cases were identified during a mean follow-up of 7.5 years (1 January 2003 to 31 December 2010; 2 41 120 person-years). An intake of dietary long-chain n-3 PUFAs (FFQ1997) of more than 0.21 g/day (lowest quintile) was associated with a 35% decreased risk of developing RA (multivariable adjusted relative risk (RR) 0.65; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.90) compared with a lower intake. Long-term intake consistently higher than 0.21 g/day (according to both FFQ1987 and FFQ1997) was associated with a 52% (95% CI 29% to 67%) decreased risk. Consistent long-term consumption (FFQ1987 and FFQ1997) of fish ≥1 serving per week compared with <1 was associated with a 29% decrease in risk (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.04).

 Conclusions

 This prospective study of women supports the hypothesis that dietary intake of long-chain n-3 PUFAs may play a role in aetiology of RA.

Source

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, individualised exercise improves endothelial function

 

 

           Posted on August 3, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                Ann Rheum Dis. 2013 Jul 31. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203291. [Epub ahead of print] Individualised exercise improves endothelial function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Metsios GS, Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou A, Veldhuijzen van Zanten JJ, Nightingale P, Sandoo A, Dimitroulas T, Kitas GD, Koutedakis Y. Source: School of Sport, Performing Arts & Leisure, Wolverhampton University, Walsall, West Midlands, UK.

Abstract



 BACKGROUND:

 We investigated the effects of individualised combined resistance and aerobic exercise on microvascular and macrovascular function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

 METHODS:

Forty age-matched, gender-matched and body mass index (BMI)-matched patients were allocated to either an exercise group, receiving a 6 months tailored aerobic and resistance exercise intervention, or controls receiving only information about the benefits of exercise. Participants were assessed for microvascular (acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)) and macrovascular (flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)) endothelial function, maximal oxygen uptake, disease activity and severity (C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity score 28 and health assessment questionnaire). Data were collected at baseline, 3 months and at the end of the intervention (6 months).

 RESULTS:

At baseline, demographic, anthropometric, disease-related characteristics and endothelial function parameters were similar between the exercise and control groups (p>0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant improvement in endothelial function parameters at 3 (GTN: p<0.001) or 6 months (Ach: p=0.016, SNP: p=0.045, FMD: p=0.016) in the exercise but not in the control group. Generalised estimated equations detected that maximal oxygen uptake was a strong predictor for the observed changes in Ach (p=0.009) and GTN (p<0.001) whereas logCRP for SNP (p=0.017) and GTN (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: An exercise programme designed to meet individual needs and physical abilities significantly improves microvascular and macrovascular function in parallel with disease-related characteristics in RA patients. The potential long-term beneficial effects of such interventions at reducing cardiovascular risk in these patients merit further exploration.

Source - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/in-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis-individualised-exercise-improves-endothelial-function/arthritis-rheumatoid/#sthash.Mz8OLjst.dpuf