Anti-inflammatory material
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may be able to reduce their high risk of heart disease and stroke with a gluten-free vegan diet say researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. 38 volunteers with RA, following the test diet for one year, showed a significant drop in their levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol compared to a control group eating a non-vegan low-fat wholegrain diet. RA affects around 350,000 people in the UK.
Elkan, A.C., Sjöberg, B., Kolsrud, B., Ringertz, B., Hafström, I., Frostegård, J. 2008. Gluten-free vegan diet induces decreased LDL and oxidized LDL levels and raised atheroprotective natural antibodies against phosphorylcholine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized study. Arthritis Research and Therapy. 10 (2) R34.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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