A vegan diet that eliminates all animal products from the diet in addition to going gluten free may help rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers. RA patients have an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Study participants following this gluten free vegan diet showed blood changes that suggest anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective effects were taking place, such as lowered LDL “bad” cholesterol.
A similar study published in 2001 in Rheumatology found this diet helped improved the signs and symptoms of RA with a reduction in gluten-related antibodies.
References:
Vitasearch.com “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,” Elkan AC, Sjoberg B, et al, Arthritis Res Ther, 2008; 10(2): R34
Rheumatology http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/40/10/1175