The Effect of the Ideal Food Pyramid on Gut Microbiota in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

BACKGROUND

The gut microbiota composition of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients differs from healthy people, and diet is among the powerful environmental determinants that can alter the microbiota. The purpose of this clinical research was to identify the effect of the Ideal Food Pyramid on gut microbiota in RA, as well as its impact on disease activity, biochemical findings and anthropometric measurements.

METHODS

Thirty patients diagnosed with RA that met the inclusion criteria were randomized into diet and control groups and followed for 12 weeks. The gut microbiota composition was indicated by 16SrRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

At the end of this study, Simpson, Shannon and Chao-1 indices were higher in the diet group (16) than in the control group (14), although not significantly ( > 0.05). In the diet group, at phylum levels, the abundance of decreased while the abundance of increased. At species level, , , , decreased, while , , , , , , , and species increased in the diet group.

CONCLUSIONS

The Ideal Food Pyramid has been determined to have many clinical benefits for RA patients, especially for the gut microbiota.