Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

    Written by:
    Bill Willis

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Mike Murray, Graham Walker
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is mainly known for affecting the joints, but can also affect other parts of the body. It is more common in women than men and often starts during middle age, but it can occur at any age. The cause of RA is not well understood, but it seems to involve genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.

    7 references on this page
    44,265 participants in 26 trials and 5 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Examine Database: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

    Type-II Collagen
    Curcumin
    Mediterranean Diet
    Resveratrol
    Rose Hip
    Vegan Diet
    Velvet Antler
    Alpha-Lipoic Acid
    Black seed
    Boron
    Coenzyme Q10
    Fang Ji
    Feverfew
    Fish Oil
    Hesperidin
    Intermittent fasting (IF)
    King of Bitters
    Krill Oil
    Magnesium
    Purslane Extract
    Red Light Therapy
    Saffron
    Vitamin E
    Yoga

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Frequently asked questions

    Examine Database References

    1. Pain - Katja A Schönenberger, Anne-Catherine Schüpfer, Viktoria L Gloy, Paul Hasler, Zeno Stanga, Nina Kaegi-Braun, Emilie ReberEffect of Anti-Inflammatory Diets on Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisNutrients.(2021 Nov 24)
    2. Interleukin 6 - Hulander, E; et al.A randomized controlled cross-over trial investigating the acute inflammatory and metabolic response after meals based on red meat, fatty fish, or soy protein: the postprandial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (PIRA) trialEur J Nutr.(2024-06-27)
    3. Pain - Amalraj A, Varma K, Jacob J, Divya C, Kunnumakkara AB, Stohs SJ, Gopi SA Novel Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Formulation Improves Symptoms and Diagnostic Indicators in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Dose, Three-Arm, and Parallel-Group StudyJ Med Food.(2017 Oct)
    4. Pain - Chandran B, Goel AA randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritisPhytother Res.(2012 Nov)
    5. Pain - Kirkeskov B, Christensen R, Bügel S, Bliddal H, Danneskiold-Samsøe B, Christensen LP, Andersen JRThe effects of rose hip (Rosa canina) on plasma antioxidative activity and C-reactive protein in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and normal controls: a prospective cohort studyPhytomedicine.(2011 Aug 15)
    6. Pain - Willich SN, Rossnagel K, Roll S, Wagner A, Mune O, Erlendson J, Kharazmi A, Sörensen H, Winther KRose hip herbal remedy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - a randomised controlled trialPhytomedicine.(2010 Feb)
    7. Pain - Trentham DE, Dynesius-Trentham RA, Orav EJ, Combitchi D, Lorenzo C, Sewell KL, Hafler DA, Weiner HLEffects of oral administration of type II collagen on rheumatoid arthritisScience.(1993 Sep 24)
    8. Pain - Barnett ML, Kremer JM, St Clair EW, Clegg DO, Furst D, Weisman M, Fletcher MJ, Chasan-Taber S, Finger E, Morales A, Le CH, Trentham DETreatment of rheumatoid arthritis with oral type II collagen. Results of a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialArthritis Rheum.(1998 Feb)
    9. Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - M L Barnett, D Combitchi, D E TrenthamA pilot trial of oral type II collagen in the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritisArthritis Rheum.(1996 Apr)
    10. Pain - Gheita TA, Kenawy SAEffectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a placebo controlled studyPhytother Res.(2012 Aug)
    11. Pain - Brosseau L, Robinson V, Wells G, Debie R, Gam A, Harman K, Morin M, Shea B, Tugwell PLow level laser therapy (Classes I, II and III) for treating rheumatoid arthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2005-Oct-19)
    12. Pain - Biswas I, Kaur J, Pearce F, Lewis S, Chattopadhyay KKey Features of Effective Yoga Interventions in Addition to Standard Medical Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.ACR Open Rheumatol.(2025 May)
    13. TNF-Alpha - Zahra Hamidi, Naheed Aryaeian, Jamileh Abolghasemi, Fatemeh Shirani, Mahsa Hadidi, Soudabeh Fallah, Nariman MoradiThe effect of saffron supplement on clinical outcomes and metabolic profiles in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialPhytother Res.(2020 Jul)
    14. TNF-Alpha - Hussain SA, Abood SJ, Gorial FIThe adjuvant use of calcium fructoborate and borax with etanercept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Pilot studyJ Intercult Ethnopharmacol.(2016 Dec 8)
    15. TNF-Alpha - Koushki M, Dashatan NA, Meshkani REffect of Resveratrol Supplementation on Inflammatory Markers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Clin Ther.(2018-Jul)
    16. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Armita Mahdavi Gorabi, Saeed Aslani, Danyal Imani, Bahman Razi, Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Amirhossein SahebkarEffect of resveratrol on C-reactive protein: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPhytother Res.(2021 Dec)
    17. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Kometani T, Fukuda T, Kakuma T, Kawaguchi K, Tamura W, Kumazawa Y, Nagata KEffects of alpha-glucosylhesperidin, a bioactive food material, on collagen-induced arthritis in mice and rheumatoid arthritis in humansImmunopharmacol Immunotoxicol.(2008)
    18. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Pattrick M, Heptinstall S, Doherty MFeverfew in rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind, placebo controlled studyAnn Rheum Dis.(1989 Jul)
    19. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Ann-Charlotte Elkan, Beatrice Sjöberg, Björn Kolsrud, Bo Ringertz, Ingiäld Hafström, Johan FrostegårdGluten-free vegan diet induces decreased LDL and oxidized LDL levels and raised atheroprotective natural antibodies against phosphorylcholine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized studyArthritis Res Ther.(2008)
    20. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Deutsch LEvaluation of the effect of Neptune Krill Oil on chronic inflammation and arthritic symptomsJ Am Coll Nutr.(2007 Feb)
    21. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Abdollahzad H, et alCoenzyme Q10 supplementation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Are there any effects on cardiovascular risk factors?Eur J Integr Med..()
    22. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Sekiya N, Shimada Y, Niizawa A, Kogure T, Mantani N, Sakai S, Hikiami H, Terasawa KSuppressive effects of Stephania tetrandra on the neutrophil function in patients with rheumatoid arthritisPhytother Res.(2004 Mar)
    23. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Tavakoli A, Akhgarjand C, Ansar H, Houjaghani H, Khormani A, Djafarian K, Rostamian A, Ranjbar M, Farsani GMThe effects of intermittent fasting on antioxidant and inflammatory markers and liver enzymes in postmenopausal, overweight and obese women with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial.Sci Rep.(2025 Jan 18)
    24. Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - Allen M, Oberle K, Grace M, Russell A, Adewale AJA randomized clinical trial of elk velvet antler in rheumatoid arthritisBiol Res Nurs.(2008 Jan)
    25. Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - Allen M, Oberle K, Grace M, Russell AElk velvet antler in rheumatoid arthritis: phase II trialBiol Res Nurs.(2002 Jan)
    26. Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - Bae SC, Jung WJ, Lee EJ, Yu R, Sung MKEffects of antioxidant supplements intervention on the level of plasma inflammatory molecules and disease severity of rheumatoid arthritis patientsJ Am Coll Nutr.(2009 Feb)
    27. Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - Burgos RA, Hancke JL, Bertoglio JC, Aguirre V, Arriagada S, Calvo M, Cáceres DDEfficacy of an Andrographis paniculata composition for the relief of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled trialClin Rheumatol.(2009 Aug)
    28. Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - Karimi E, Aryaeian N, Akhlaghi M, Abolghasemi J, Fallah S, Heydarian A, Rostami R, Bayat MH, Mahmoudi MThe effect of purslane supplementation on clinical outcomes, inflammatory and antioxidant markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A parallel double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial.Phytomedicine.(2024 Sep 11)
    29. Weight - Barbara C Olendzki, Katherine Leung, Susan Van Buskirk, George Reed, Robert B ZurierTreatment of rheumatoid arthritis with marine and botanical oils: influence on serum lipidsEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2011)
    30. Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk - Karlson EW, Shadick NA, Cook NR, Buring JE, Lee IMVitamin E in the primary prevention of rheumatoid arthritis: the Women's Health StudyArthritis Rheum.(2008 Nov 15)
    31. Blood glucose - Norouzi M, Rezvankhah B, Haeri MR, Heydari H, Tafaroji J, Shafigh N, Avval JO, Dahmardeh AR, Masoumzadeh N, Gharehbeglou MMagnesium supplementation and insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Eur J Transl Myol.(2022-Jul-05)