A MEDiterranean Diet in Rheumatoid Arthritis (MEDRA)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term inflammatory disease which commonly occurs in the small joints of the hands, wrists and feet leading to swelling, pain and stiffness in the affected joints. The condition is two to three times more prevalent in women than in men. Although it might occur at any age, the incidence of the disease is highest between the ages of 40 and 65 years. Currently, there is no treatment that provides complete remission of the disease for people living with RA. Treatment of RA aims to reduce the symptoms and improve the health of the patient. Although diet is not part of the mainstream treatment, many studies have reported beneficial effects of certain diets on RA symptoms. The MEDRA study will examine the habitual dietary intakes of people living with RA in Ireland and will explore whether people with RA will benefit from either a Mediterranean dietary pattern or the Healthy eating guidelines in Ireland. This small scale study will provide useful information on whether people with RA in Ireland can adhere to a Mediterranean dietary pattern and whether the intervention will have beneficial impact on the physical function and quality of life. This is important work prior to proceeding to larger intervention studies.