The British Journal of Rheumatology, Vol 36, 64-68, Copyright © 1997 by British Society for Rheumatology
R Peltonen, M Nenonen, T Helve, O Hanninen, P Toivanen and E Eerola
To clarify the role of the faecal flora in the diet-induced decrease of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity, 43 RA patients were randomized into two
groups: the test group to receive living food, a form of uncooked vegan
diet rich in lactobacilli, and the control group to continue their ordinary
omnivorous diets. Based on clinical assessments before, during and after
the intervention period, a disease improvement index was constructed for
each patient. According to the index, patients were assigned either to a
group with a high improvement index (HI) or to a group with a low
improvement index (LO). Stool samples collected from each patient before
the intervention and at 1 month were analysed by direct stool sample
gas-liquid chromatography of bacterial cellular fatty acids. This method
has proved to be a simple and sensitive way to detect changes and
differences in the faecal microbial flora between individual stool samples
or groups of them. A significant, diet-induced change in the faecal flora
(P = 0.001) was observed in the test group, but not in the control group.
Further, in the test group, a significant (P = 0.001) difference was
detected between the HI and LO categories at 1 month, but not in the
pre-test samples. We conclude that a vegan diet changes the faecal
microbial flora in RA patients, and changes in the faecal flora are
associated with improvement in RA activity.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Faecal microbial flora and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis during a vegan diet
Department of Medicine, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
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