Assessment of the diet of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

There have been many and divergent thoughts expressed both in the scientific and in the lay literature regarding diets for patients with arthritis (1-8). However, few experimental observations pertain to either the nutritional status of arthritis patients or the clinical value of putative nutritional therapies (1-8). Until such time as the notion that dietary manipulation can alleviate particular symptoms for selected patients is proved, it is prudent to advise patients to maintain sound nutritional practices in accordance with contemporary standards (4-8, 13-16). Our data indicate that many arthritis patients are at least marginally inadequate in selected nutrients, some of which (vitamin E and zinc) might relate to immunologic events important in perpetuating the disease. These observations provide a basis for nutritional counseling of arthritis patients.