Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, inflammatory, chronic disease that is characterized by a persistent immune response that leads to inflammation and destruction of the joints. It is considered an autoimmune disease, that is, the body's immunity attacks the joints. We can detect high levels of antibodies in the blood.

Research in recent years points to the relationship between autoimmune diseases and alteration of the intestinal flora, also called “intestinal dysbiosis”. It has been proven that in autoimmune diseases, and specifically in rheumatoid osteoarthritis, an altered flora is found with a certain pattern. A reduction in bifidobacteria and bacteroides has been detected, and an increase in prevotella copri bacteria.

Patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis complain of having digestive problems: heaviness after meals, epigastric pain, burning, belching, abdominal bloating, changes in bowel movements (constipation/diarrhea)...

Studies have been published in which it is evident that patients with rheumatoid arthritis subjected to vegetarian diets manage to reduce inflammation levels and related symptoms such as improvement in morning joint stiffness and pain.

Supplementation with Omega 3 fatty acids has shown clinical benefit in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, allowing doses of analgesics to be reduced.

On the other hand, there are precise formulas of Chinese plants which have been used for centuries to successfully alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis patients. The scientific community has carried out studies with individual plants and formulas to demonstrate their action as a complementary treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

The root of Paeonia multiflora has been widely studied. A clinical trial published in 2017 has demonstrated greater effectiveness in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the combination of Metrotexate with Paeonia multiflora glycosides than the sole treatment with Metrotexate. Their combination has greater anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, reducing circulating antibodies and reducing bone destruction.

The root of Tripterygii Wilfordii has been shown in various clinical studies to improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as a decrease in the number of affected joints, a decrease in pain and an increase in strength. of the hands.

In my clinical experience I have verified that the fundamental axis for controlling the progression of the disease and improving the symptoms is diet. In addition, it is important to normalize the bacterial flora using probiotics that have demonstrated scientific evidence in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis at appropriate doses. Chinese plant formulas are very useful to normalize the function of the digestive tract and reduce inflammation in the joints.

Scientific studies on the benefits of a specific diet in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

• 2018. Sousa Guerreiro et al. Diet, Microbiota, and Gut Permeability—The Unknown Triad in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Frontiers in medicine, 14 December 2018 doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2018.00349
• 2017. Shweta Khanna  et al. Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dietary Interventions. Front Nutr. 2017; 4:52

Scientific studies on alterations in intestinal flora in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• 2018. Zhou YY, Xia X The Effectiveness and Safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F Extracts in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2018 Apr 16;9:356.
• 2018. Wang J, Chen N et al.  A Systematic Review about the Efficacy and Safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. Preparations Used for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Feb 8;2018:1567463.
• 2018. Xu H, Cai L et al.  Paeoniflorin ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis via suppressing nuclear factor-κB signalling pathway in osteoclast differentiation. Immunology. 2018 Feb 17.
• 2018. Feng ZT  et al. A systemic review and meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy and safety of total glucosides of peony combined with methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol. 2018 Jan;37(1):35-42.
• 2015. Xiang N1 et al. Total glucosides of paeony can reduce the hepatotoxicity caused by Methotrexate and Leflunomide combination treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2015 Sep;28(1):802-7

Estudios científicos sobre el uso de Omega 3 en el tratamiento de la artritis reumatoide

• 2018. Cecilia Lourdudoss  et al. Dietary Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Pain in Spite of Inflammatory Control Among Methotrexate‐Treated Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2018 Feb; 70(2): 205–212.
• 2016. Elham Rajaei, Karim Mowla  et al. The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving DMARDs Therapy: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.  Glob J Health Sci. 2016 Jul; 8(7): 18–25