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Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(4):201-6
Fasting mimicking diets: A literature review of their impact on inflammatory arthritis
Authors Information

Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

Abstract

This article is part of the MJR Special Issue on Diet & Rheumatic Diseases, edited by Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Lazaros I. Sakkas, and Yehuda Shoenfeld.

Fasting is an act of restricting, for a certain length of time, food intake or intake of particular foods, and has been part of religious rituals for centuries. Religions such as Christianity and Islam use this practice as a form of sacrifice, self-discipline, and gratitude. However, in the past decade, fasting has penetrated the mainstream as a diet trend. There are several ways of fasting; existing fast mimicking eating methods promise accelerated weight loss, and many more benefits: lower cholesterol, prevention of type 2 diabetes and a longer lifespan. Even more, it has been proposed that fasting can downregulate the inflammatory process and potentially be used as a treatment regimen for several diseases. Here, we review the effects of fasting on immune and inflammatory pathways. Also, we present current knowledge about the role of fasting in the activity of inflammatory arthritides with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis.

https://doi.org/10.31138/mjr.30.4.201

©Venetsanopoulou AI, Voulgari PV, Drosos AA.