This diet may help prevent common arthritis

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In a new study, researchers found that the Mediterranean diet may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis in people who smoke or used to smoke.

The research was conducted by a team at the Université de Paris and elsewhere.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints.

In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.

Previous research has demonstrated a variety of health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, cereals, fruit and vegetables, fish, and a moderate amount of dairy, meat, and wine.

In the study, the team examined 62,629 women from France who have been taking part in a questionnaire-based study assessing dietary intake since 1990. In total, 480 women developed rheumatoid arthritis.

The team found the adherence to the Mediterranean diet was not linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk overall.

However, among women who smoked or used to smoke, it was linked to a decreased risk: 383 cases of rheumatoid arthritis per 1 million people per year among those with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, compared with 515 cases per 1 million people per year among those with low adherence to the diet.

(Among women who never smoked and had high adherence to the diet, there were 358 cases per 1 million people per year.)

The findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet could reduce the high risk of rheumatoid arthritis. among ever‐smoking women

One author of the study is Yann Nguyen, Université de Paris.

The study is published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

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