The Norwegian study suggests that the improvements were also due to changes made in dietary fatty acids through the vegetarian diet. When these antigens are absorbed from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, they are bound by antibodies and circulate as injurious antigen-antibody complexes. These can cause increased immune activity in joints, causing inflammation and pain. According to one theory, this occurs as a result of allergies disrupting normal digestive function. Again there is disagreement among professionals.
Some doctors say eliminating foods is safe.
Others say patients may suffer by eliminating nutritious foods they need. Of special concern is the fasting that often begins an elimination diet, because it can cause loss of muscle mass and alter the metabolism. Consequently, it is important to undertake an elimination diet or fast under a doctor's supervision. After talking to your doctor, a conservative approach might be to observe what you eat and simply stop eating just one food, or food family, you suspect is associated with flares. Each individual is different and there is no one food reported to cause symptoms in everyone.