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Nutrients
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Rheumatoid Arthritis and Nutrition: Bridging Diet and Disease Management
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Rheumatoid Arthritis and Nutrition: Bridging Diet and Disease Management

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 1039

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Maurizio Cutolo

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Guest Editor
1. Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy
2. IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Interests: rheumatoid arthritis; nutrition; autoimmunity; Raynaud phenomenon; systemic sclerosis; capillaroscopy; interstitial lung disease; vitamin D; glucocorticoids; polymyalgia rheumatica
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elvis Hysa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Interests: rheumatoid arthritis; nutrition; autoimmunity; polymyalgia rheumatica; giant cell arteritis; capillascopy; systemic sclerosis; immunotherapy; immune checkpoint inhibitor
Dr. Francesca Anna Ingegnoli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Rheumatology Unit, ASST Pini-CTO, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
Interests: systemic sclerosis; rheumatoid arthritis; nutrition; patient-reported outcomes; capillaroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that is characterized by systemic inflammation and joint damage, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that nutritional intake plays a critical role in modulating the immune system, influencing inflammatory pathways, and potentially affecting the onset, progression, and management of RA. Dietary patterns, specific nutrients, and bioactive compounds have been linked to disease activity, comorbidities, and treatment outcomes in RA.

This Special Issue of Nutrients aims to explore the intricate relationship between diet/nutrients and RA, focusing on both mechanistic insights and clinical applications. We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and comprehensive narrative reviews that address topics such as the effects of dietary interventions, beverages, the role of micronutrients and macronutrients, and the impact of nutrition on the gut microbiome and immune regulation in RA.

By gathering contributions from leading researchers and clinicians, this Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of how correct nutrition can complement current therapeutic approaches and improve patient outcomes in RA. We invite submissions that provide innovative perspectives and contribute to shaping future optimal dietary recommendations in the context of autoimmune diseases.

Prof. Dr. Maurizio Cutolo
Dr. Elvis Hysa
Dr. Francesca Anna Ingegnoli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • nutrition
  • diet
  • inflammation
  • outcomes
  • Mediterranean diet

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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14 pages, 1394 KiB  
Article
Measures of Adiposity and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Middle-Aged UK Women: A Prospective Cohort Study
by Yuanyuan Dong, Darren C. Greenwood, Laura J. Hardie and Janet E. Cade
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1557; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091557 - 30 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: To estimate the association between various indicators of obesity-related health risk and the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large cohort of women. Methods: The UK Women’s Cohort Study is a prospective cohort of 35,372 middle-aged women (aged 35–69 [...] Read more.
Objectives: To estimate the association between various indicators of obesity-related health risk and the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large cohort of women. Methods: The UK Women’s Cohort Study is a prospective cohort of 35,372 middle-aged women (aged 35–69 at recruitment) initiated in 1995–1998. Obesity was assessed using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), categorised according to WHO and NICE guidelines, as well as clothing size. Incident RA cases were identified via Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) linkage up to March 2019. Cox regression models were used to estimate RA risk, adjusting for demographics, reproductive factors, and lifestyle factors. Non-linear associations were examined using restricted cubic splines. Results: Among 27,968 eligible subjects with complete data linkage (625,269 person-years of follow-up), there were 255 incident RA cases. Obesity (≥30.0 kg/m2) was associated with increased RA risk (HR (95% CI) 1.48 (1.02, 2.17), as were abdominal obesity (WC > 88 cm: 1.58 (1.10, 2.27)), WHR ≥ 0.85 (1.56 (1.03, 2.36)), and WHtR ≥ 0.6 (2.25 (1.34, 3.80)). Each 2.5 kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with a 9% higher risk of RA; each 5 cm increase in WC with 6%; each 0.1 increase in WHR with 20%, and each 0.1 increase in WHtR with 27%. Larger clothing sizes were associated with a greater RA risk: for each onesize increment in blouse size and skirt size, the HRs were 1.13 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.22) and 1.13 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.22), respectively. Notably, skirt size ≥ 20 was associated with a 2.36-fold increased risk of RA. There was evidence of effect modification by weight change and menopausal status in obesity-related RA risk. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that managing obesity and central adiposity in middle-aged women may be associated with the risk of developing RA. WHtR may serve as a practical alternative to BMI in assessing RA risk. Clothing size, particularly skirt size, could provide a simple, cost-effective proxy for identifying at high risk of RA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rheumatoid Arthritis and Nutrition: Bridging Diet and Disease Management)
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Review

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20 pages, 2423 KiB  
Review
The Role of Diet in Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis
by Daria Kupczyk, Rafał Bilski, Łukasz Szeleszczuk, Katarzyna Mądra-Gackowska and Renata Studzińska
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091603 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 508
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rheumatoid Arthritis and Nutrition: Bridging Diet and Disease Management)
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