Effects of vegetarian and vegan diets on disease activity, pain, fatigue, and physical function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
The meta-analysis suggests potential beneficial effects on pain. However, due to the methodological limitations and the small number of studies included, definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn.
Study context
- Population
- People with RA; RCTs published 1979–2023 (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Central up to December 2024)7 RCTs
- Comparison
- Vegetarian or vegan diets vs controls
- Outcome
- Disease activity, pain, fatigue and physical function
Methodological detailsGRADE certainty assessment, sensitivity and subgroup analyses
- GRADE certainty assessment
- Sensitivity and subgroup analyses
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Disease activity, pain, physical function (pooled)
- Disease activity: no significant improvement vs controls
- Pain: small significant improvement vs controls
- Physical function: no significant improvement vs controls
- Fatigue assessed in only one study; not eligible for meta-analysis
- Certainty of evidence (GRADE) low across all outcomes
Further pooled results
Sensitivity and subgroup analyses
- Did not change the outcome of the meta-analysis
Original publication
Effects of vegetarian and vegan diets on disease activity, pain, fatigue, and physical function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Joint Bone Spine. Published 2 September 2025. doi:10.
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