A 6-MONTH intervention study found that adding a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) to an exercise programme significantly improved muscle performance, pain, inflammation, handgrip strength, body weight, and functional ability in females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These benefits were sustained even after a further six-month follow-up with no intervention.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition that commonly leads to joint pain, inflammation, and muscle weakness. While pharmacotherapy remains the primary treatment, many patients adopt complementary lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise. This study aimed to assess the effects of incorporating MedDiet alongside a structured exercise programme on key health outcomes in females with RA.
Sixty female participants were randomly assigned to either a MedDiet plus exercise group (n = 30) or an exercise-only group (n = 30). The intervention lasted six months, followed by a six-month follow-up without further intervention. The primary outcome measured was quadriceps and hamstrings muscle performance (agonist-antagonist ratio). Secondary outcomes included pain (measured via the visual analogue scale), inflammation (C-reactive protein levels), handgrip strength, body weight, and functional ability (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index). Results showed that the MedDiet group had significantly greater improvements than the control group in all measures (p < .05). After six months, the agonist-antagonist ratio improved to 84.59 ± 5.33 in the MedDiet group compared to 69.92 ± 5.56 in the control group (p < .001, ƞ2 = 0.65). Pain scores also improved more in the MedDiet group (42.33 ± 8.98 vs 54.33 ± 10.06, p<0.001, ƞ2 = 0.3), alongside significant gains in function, strength, and inflammation reduction. These improvements were maintained at the 12-month follow-up.
The findings suggest that integrating a Mediterranean diet with an aerobic and strength-based exercise programme offers superior benefits over exercise alone in managing RA symptoms. This highlights the potential for dietary modifications as an adjunct to conventional treatment strategies in clinical practice. Future research should explore the long-term sustainability of these benefits and the underlying mechanisms driving the improvements. Healthcare professionals should consider recommending dietary interventions alongside exercise to optimise patient outcomes.
Katheeja Imani, EMJ
Reference
Abdel-Aal NM et al. Impact of adding Mediterranean diet to aerobic and strengthening exercise program on pain, inflammation, and muscle performance in females with
