A NEW study examining the long-term effects of a specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) suggests potential benefits, particularly for individuals seeking to avoid medication escalation. While previous findings showed short-term improvements, this one-year follow-up provides deeper insight into the diet’s impact on disease management.
The study followed 28 children with JIA and low disease activity. Of these, 21 adhered to the SCD for at least one month, showing significant clinical improvements, including reduced pain, morning stiffness, and inflamed joints. Sixteen children completed the full-year follow-up, and their medical burden was compared with that of 48 matched retrospective controls.
Although there were no significant group-level changes in medication use after the dietary intervention, six participants were able to avoid planned medical escalations throughout the year. This suggests that, for some children, dietary changes may play a role in managing symptoms and stabilizing their condition.
Despite these findings, long-term adherence proved challenging for many participants due to the restrictive nature of the SCD. The study underscores the need for further research into alternative, less complex dietary approaches that could be more sustainable for pediatric patients with JIA.
The results highlight the potential of nutrition as a complementary strategy for managing JIA. However, researchers emphasize the need for larger studies to determine which dietary components contribute to observed benefits and to establish more practical dietary recommendations in pediatric rheumatology.
Reference: Hagström N et al. One-year follow-up of a short specific carbohydrate diet intervention in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A retrospectively controlled study with focus on medical burden. Clin Rheumatol. 2025. doi: 10.1007/s10067-025-07421-z. [Online ahead of print].
