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Nutritional Problems Related to Rheumatic Disease

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2024) | Viewed by 5665

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Guest Editor
Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Center of Excellence for Systemic Sclerosis in Croatia, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia
Interests: vitamin D; systemic sclerosis; malnutrition; body composition; arterial stiffness
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutritional problems in rheumatic diseases are recognized today as a significant issue that affects the morbidity and mortality of patients. In conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), therapy-related issues often contribute to nutritional deficiencies. Furthermore, the chronic inflammatory state characteristic of these diseases can increase energy expenditure and nutrient requirements, exacerbating the risk of malnutrition. A poor dietary intake, coupled with inflammation-induced metabolic alterations, can contribute to deficits in essential nutrients such as vitamin D, calcium and antioxidants, further impacting disease progression and outcomes. Expert monitoring and tailored dietary interventions are essential to address these nutritional concerns comprehensively, aiming to optimize patients' nutritional status and overall health while managing the complexities of rheumatic diseases.

In this context, we invite you to submit your research, clinical, experimental and in vitro studies, as well as reviews, to this Special Issue.

Dr. Mislav Radić
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nutrition
  • rheumatic disease
  • malnutrition
  • body composition
  • autoimmune disease
  • micronutrients
  • macronutrients
  • obesity

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1125 KiB  
Article
Do Obesity and Adipose Tissue Cytokines Influence the Response to Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis?
by Marta Novella-Navarro, Ana Van Den Rym, Chary López-Pedrera, Ana Martínez-Feito, Beatriz Nieto-Carvalhal, Keren Reche, Clementina López-Medina, Alejandro Escudero-Contreras, Pilar Nozal, Maria Eugenia Miranda-Carús, Irene Monjo, Eugenio De Miguel, Alejandro Balsa, Rebeca Pérez-De Diego and Chamaida Plasencia-Rodríguez
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050820 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 498
Abstract
Background: Obesity is a frequent comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This condition may lead these patients to have poorer disease control and a worse response to some of the available treatments. Objectives: We aim to analyze the role of body mass [...] Read more.
Background: Obesity is a frequent comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This condition may lead these patients to have poorer disease control and a worse response to some of the available treatments. Objectives: We aim to analyze the role of body mass index (BMI) in the clinical response to Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in patients with RA. We aim to perform an in-depth analysis of the pathophysiology of obesity by assessing serum adipokine levels, their potential influence in disease activity and their changes with treatment. Methods: This study involved 81 patients with RA treated with JAKis from Hospital La Paz and Hospital Reina Sofía. Patients were classified according to their BMI as normal weight and overweight/obesity. The clinical response to treatment was assessed by the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) 6 months after the initiation of JAKis. Serum adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) were determined using a commercial immunoassay kit in samples obtained before the initiation of JAKis and after 6 months of treatment. Results: Leptin levels showed a significant positive correlation with BMI at baseline (r = 0.59, p < 0.01) and at 6 months (r = 0.56, p < 0.01) in the whole cohort, but no correlation was found between BMI and adiponectin. No correlation between disease activity and BMI was found in the whole cohort at baseline and at 6 months measured by both the CDAI and DAS28. Fifty patients (61.7%) achieved low disease activity (LDA)/remission at 6 months, regardless their BMI, and no differences in serum adipokine levels were observed at baseline and at 6 months in patients who achieved LDA vs. no-LDA. Conclusions: In this study, we did not find an association between obesity and the extent of LDA in patients treated with JAKis; therefore, this mechanism of action could be suitable for overweight/obese patients with RA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Problems Related to Rheumatic Disease)
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18 pages, 2465 KiB  
Article
Daily Amount of Purine in Commonly Recommended Well-Balanced Diets in Japan and Overseas
by Kiyoko Kaneko, Keito Tsuruga, Fukue Takayanagi, Tomoko Fukuuchi, Noriko Yamaoka, Reiko Seki and Shin Fujimori
Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4066; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234066 - 27 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2438
Abstract
Background/Objectives: A low purine diet has been recommended for patients with gout and hyperuricemia, but there are concerns about excessive carbohydrates and a lack of protein. A well-balanced diet in accordance with general dietary guidelines is widely recommended. The Mediterranean diet and the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: A low purine diet has been recommended for patients with gout and hyperuricemia, but there are concerns about excessive carbohydrates and a lack of protein. A well-balanced diet in accordance with general dietary guidelines is widely recommended. The Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet are also recommended for gout and hyperuricemia patients. However, there is little information on the purine levels in these diets. The aim of this study is to determine the daily amount of purine in well-balanced diets that follows the dietary guidelines, including the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. Methods: We measured the purine content in various foodstuffs. Using these values, we calculated the amount of purine in generally recommended well-balanced diets—the Japanese diet, American My Plate Plan, the Mediterranean diet, and the DASH diet. To calculate the amount of purine, recipes tailored to the characteristics of each diet were created. Results: The amount of purine in the Japanese diet, in the American My Plate Plan, in the Mediterranean diet, and in the DASH diet were 308.5–366.1, 308.7–335.0, 346.6–394.1, 325.9–493.9 mg/day, respectively. These values were close to the 400 mg/day recommended in the Japanese Guideline for the management of Hyperuricemia and Gout. Conclusions: A well-balanced diet following the recommendation in the dietary guidelines is considered to provide adequate purines. Because a high purine diet can lead to the recurrence of gout, advising to eat a balanced diet is useful on lifestyle guidance for the patients with gout and hyperuricemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Problems Related to Rheumatic Disease)
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Review

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13 pages, 1240 KiB  
Review
Trace Element Deficiency in Systemic Sclerosis—Too Much Effort for Some Traces?
by Daniela Opriș-Belinski, Claudia Oana Cobilinschi, Simona Caraiola, Raluca Ungureanu, Ana-Maria Cotae, Ioana Marina Grințescu, Cristian Cobilinschi, Andrei Cosmin Andrei, Radu Țincu, Răzvan Ene and Liliana Mirea
Nutrients 2024, 16(13), 2053; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132053 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2313
Abstract
Trace elements are essential for several physiological processes. To date, various data have suggested that inadequate levels of trace elements may be involved in the pathogenesis of different chronic diseases, including immune-mediated ones, or may develop during their course. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is [...] Read more.
Trace elements are essential for several physiological processes. To date, various data have suggested that inadequate levels of trace elements may be involved in the pathogenesis of different chronic diseases, including immune-mediated ones, or may develop during their course. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune multisystemic disease, primarily characterized by microvascular dysregulation, the widespread activation of the immune system and tissue fibrosis. According to the latest reports regarding the pathogenesis of SSc, the main pathophysiological processes—inflammation, vasculopathy and fibrosis—may include various trace element derangements. The present literature review aims to update the available data regarding iron, zinc, copper and selenium status in SSc as well as to underline the possible implications of these trace elements in the complexity of the pathogenic process of the disease. We observe that the status of trace elements in SSc plays a crucial role in numerous pathogenic processes, emphasizing the necessity for proper monitoring and supplementation. The reported data are heterogenous and scarce, and future studies are needed in order to draw clearer conclusions about their complete spectrum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Problems Related to Rheumatic Disease)
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