Personalized diet and exercise recommendations in early rheumatoid arthritis: A feasibility trial.

Background: Physical activity and diet have a positive influence on disease activity and cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective: We tested the feasibility and effect of a brief individualized counselling intervention on physical activity levels and fitness, and dietary intake, compared with standard of care.

Methods: Thirty patients with inflammatory arthritis (<1 year duration) were assigned to standard of care or the intervention, which consisted of individualized visits with a dietetic intern and physiotherapist at two time points, to review age-specific strategies on diet and exercise.