The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis

Kupczyk, Daria; Bilski, Rafał; Szeleszczuk, Łukasz; Mądra-Gackowska, Katarzyna; Studzińska, Renata

doi:10.3390/nu17091603

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The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis

by

Daria Kupczyk

^1,*,†

,

Rafał Bilski

^1,*,†

,

Łukasz Szeleszczuk

²

,

Katarzyna Mądra-Gackowska

³

and

Renata Studzińska

⁴

¹

Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 24 Karłowicza St., 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland

²

Department of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland

³

Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 9 Skłodowskiej Curie Str., 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland

⁴

Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 2 Jurasza Str., 85-089 Bydgoszcz, Poland

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091603

Submission received: 10 April 2025 / Revised: 2 May 2025 / Accepted: 5 May 2025 / Published: 7 May 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rheumatoid Arthritis and Nutrition: Bridging Diet and Disease Management)

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Abstract

Rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are chronic autoimmune disorders characterized by persistent inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to joint damage and reduced quality of life. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to diet as a modifiable environmental factor that can complement pharmacological therapy. This review summarizes current evidence on how key dietary components—such as omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, polyphenols, and antioxidant vitamins—affect inflammatory pathways and oxidative balance. Special emphasis is placed on the Mediterranean diet, low-starch diets, and hypocaloric regimens, which have shown potential in improving disease activity. The gut microbiota emerges as a critical mediator between diet and immune function, with dietary interventions capable of restoring eubiosis and strengthening the intestinal barrier. Additionally, this paper discusses challenges in the clinical implementation of diet therapy, the need for personalized nutritional strategies, and the importance of integrating diet into holistic patient care. Collectively, findings suggest that dietary interventions may reduce disease activity, mitigate systemic inflammation, and enhance patients’ overall well-being.

Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis; ankylosing spondylitis; psoriatic arthritis; diet; gut microbiota; oxidative stress; inflammation; Mediterranean diet; omega-3 fatty acids; polyphenols

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kupczyk, D.; Bilski, R.; Szeleszczuk, Ł.; Mądra-Gackowska, K.; Studzińska, R. The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis. Nutrients 2025, 17, 1603. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091603

AMA Style

Kupczyk D, Bilski R, Szeleszczuk Ł, Mądra-Gackowska K, Studzińska R. The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis. Nutrients. 2025; 17(9):1603. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091603

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kupczyk, Daria, Rafał Bilski, Łukasz Szeleszczuk, Katarzyna Mądra-Gackowska, and Renata Studzińska. 2025. "The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis" Nutrients 17, no. 9: 1603. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091603

APA Style

Kupczyk, D., Bilski, R., Szeleszczuk, Ł., Mądra-Gackowska, K., & Studzińska, R. (2025). The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis. Nutrients, 17(9), 1603. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091603

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The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis

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