A higher intake of fish may be associated with lower disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, according to a recent study. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from participants in the Evaluation of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Predictors of Events in RA (ESCAPE-RA) cohort study. Frequency of fish consumption was assessed by a baseline food frequency questionnaire assessing usual diet in the past year. They also estimated the difference in Disability Activity Score (DAS28-CRP) associated with increasing fish consumption by 1 serving per week. They found:

• Among 176 participants, median DAS28-CRP was 3.5 (interquartile range 2.9-4.3).
• In an adjusted linear regression model, subjects consuming fish ≥2 times/week had a significantly lower DAS28-CRP compared with subjects who ate fish never to <1/month (difference -0.49).
• For each additional serving of fish per week, DAS28-CRP was significantly reduced by 0.18.