Mediterranean diet and health outcomes in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Authors' conclusion
Higher MedDiet adherence was associated with more favourable patient-reported physical health, function and symptom burden among individuals with IIM. However, because of the cross-sectional design, the direction and causality of these relationships cannot be determined.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with self-reported specialist-diagnosed idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) in the international COVAD survey
- Participants
- 859 adults
- Outcome
- MedDiet adherence (14-item MEDAS) across IIM subtypes, its predictors, and its association with patient-reported outcomes
Methodological detailsinternational survey, multivariable linear regression, factorial analysis with hierarchical clustering
- International survey
- Multivariable linear regression
- Factorial analysis with hierarchical clustering
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence generally modest and varied across subtypes; lowest in IBM
- Female sex, autoimmune multimorbidity and fewer household members independently associated with higher Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) scores
- Higher MEDAS adherence independently associated with better physical function (PROMIS PF-4), better global physical health (PROMIS GPH), lower disease activity, lower fatigue and lower pain
- Adjusted outcome models; associations remained significant after adjustment for disease activity, GC exposure, immunosuppressant use, food security and income adequacy
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Mediterranean diet and health outcomes in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 14 August 2026. doi:10.
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