Does food intolerance have any role in the aetiology and management of rheumatoid disease?

Dietary therapy for rheumatoid disease has been used by patients for decades. Until recently, orthodox medical opinion has tended to ignore the subject, but interesting results from recent studies suggest that further investigation would now be appropriate. It is possible that food (which consists of many antigens regularly entering the body) could be responsible for altering immunological function. Be that as it may, it would seem logical, particularly in view of recent uncertainty about the efficacy and/or safety of various drugs used in the management of rheumatoid disease, to determine scientifically whether dietary manipulation has any value in the management of these rheumatoid patients.