A new study on women proposed that a low-fat vegan diet and elimination of trigger factors are associated with the reduced manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As per the study, after 16 weeks of diet, the mean disease activity decreased from 4.5 to 2.5 with the mean swollen joints value decreasing to 3.3.

The study results published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine concluded that dietary changes are a life-changing strategy for people. Neal D. Barnard, MD, an internal medicine specialist stated that the study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a practical and easy-to-prescribe diet. He added that there are many types of research on dietary changes, including fasting, however, the results have varied in many cases. 

The randomized, crossover study recruited 44 women into two different diet programs. After 16 weeks, they had a 4-week washout period before changing over to another diet. The subject group consisted of 66% white, 16% black, and 79% who held a college degree or graduate degree. In the first 16 weeks, subjects were on a low-fat diet with the elimination of triggers such as gluten, nuts, etc taking place in the 4th week and adding them back into the diet in the 7th week.

After the trial period, the mean disease activity and mean swollen joint were decreased to a lower value in comparison to the previous condition or supplement phase. (Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/973176 )