How often do orthopedic doctors or rheumatologists send their patients to an allergist or dietitian? Practically never, despite the fact that recent studies confirm the role that allergies and intolerances have in causing various forms of arthritis.

Two important considerations

This extremely interesting news makes us reflect upon two controversial and current topics. In the first place although Karatay’s two studies were performed upon patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis, it’s quite probable that an allergic type of mechanism like the one described can be identified in any form of arthritis. Thus a personalized diet could be one of the most economical forms of therapy for any subject with this pathology.

In the second place, today this kind of news (which was scarcely publicized by other sources) runs up against a drug-oriented concept of arthritis treatment. Considering that the market for analgesics/anti-inflammatory drugs is one of the richest in the world, as the Vioxx case illustrated, the therapeutic possibilities that emerge from this revolutionary discovery will be strongly opposed on a clinical level.

A description of the studies

The two articles to which I am referring, (Karatay S. et al Rheumatology (Oxford) 2004 Nov;43(11):1429-33 Epub 2004 Aug 10) and (Karatay S. et al Rheumatol Int 2005 Jul 16;1-5 Epub ahead of print) relate to a situation in which patients in remission (that is, who were well) but who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis were given a Prick test (small scratches on the arm) for foods.

All were asked to eliminate for several days the foods identified by the test. Afterwards, they were given a food load for 12 consecutive days with the allergy-provoking foods or with neutral foods (in this experiment rice and corn were used) for those who tested negatively.

Those who ate allergy-provoking foods for 12 days developed rigidity, pain and swelling, and even the values of some clinical parameters that were indicators of inflammation (VES, PCR, TNF-alfa, IL1-beta and IL1-alfa) were considerably altered. The difference with the non-allergic subjects was quite significant.

Practical application: what to do

What can a person do if he’s suffering from joint pains or arthritis? In light of the information that is provided by these studies, it’s essential to approach the problem, with an open mind. You need to understand that phenomena of osteo-articular pain must be faced on different levels:

1. dietary aspects for reducing the inflammation caused by intolerances or food allergies. A DRIA test makes it possible to identify the allergy-provoking substances and formulate a proper dietary or hyposensitizing therapy;
2. posture or positional aspects. An osteopathic or reflexological evaluation can help the body to recover its normal mechanical aspects;
3. emotional aspects. Today we know that remedies with a relaxing or anti-depressant action can be of great help in the case of osteo-articular pains and disturbances.

 The use of natural remedies with anti-inflammatory properties (Boswellia, Devil’s claw, Black currant) or other phyto-therapeutics can be used together with homeopathic remedies.