Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and disabling autoimmune inflammatory condition that affects children under the age of 16 with persistent pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints of the fingers, hands, wrists, knees and feet and progressive complications with eye inflammation and growth retardation, states MayoClinic.com. Treatment with drugs and in severe cases, surgery, may slow down the progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms. Diet may also help.
Diet Rich in Calcium and Vitamin D
Children with rheumatoid arthritis incur pain pursuing physical activities, in part because of inflammation of the joints and insufficient bone formation. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D may help these children build adequate bone mass and reduce risk of fractures, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Calcium rich foods include dairy, fish, soy and green leaf vegetables, such as kale. Vitamin D is made in the body after exposure to ultraviolet rays of sunlight and found in few foods, such as cod liver oil, eggs, fortified milk and tuna, salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel. Supplements may also help. Research by Daniel Lovell, M.D., MPH, published in "Arthritis and Rheumatism" in 2006 discovered 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D supplements increases total body bone mineral density compared with placebo in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Vegan Diet
A vegan diet includes foods from plants and omits animal products, including eggs, dairy and fish. A very low-fat vegan diet that consists of raw and uncooked foods and foods that are gluten-free may reduce symptoms associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Research by John McDougall, M.D., published in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" in 2002 found that patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who switch to a very low-fat, vegan diet can experience significant reductions in symptoms. Research by Osmo Hanninen, D.M.Sc., Ph.D., published in "Toxicology" in 2000 reports a vegan diet of raw and uncooked foods that consists of berries, fruits, vegetables and roots, nuts, germinated seeds and sprouts are rich sources of carotenoids and antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, beta and alfa carotenes, lycopene, lutein and polyphenols and dietary fiber and may result in a decrease of joint stiffness and pain and improvement of health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A gluten-free vegan diet reduces body mass index and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increases protective antibodies that reduce inflammation, according to research by Ann-Charlotte Elkan, Ph.D., published in "Arthritis Research and Therapy" in 2008. A gluten-free diet eliminates foods, such as wheat, rye and barley, which contain gluten, a protein that irritates the intestines and causes inflammation and indigestion.
Mediterranean Diet
A Mediterranean diet may help patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, because it consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, olive oil and fish. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis on a Mediterranean diet experience a reduction in inflammation, increase in physical function and improved vitality, according to research by Lars Skoldstam, M.D., Ph.D., published in "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases" in 2003.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- PubMed: You Are What You Eat: Healthy Food Choices, Nutrition, and the Child with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center: What People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Need to Know About Osteoporosis
- United States Department of Agriculture: National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin D
