Relationship Between Fish Consumption and Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective To assess whether more frequent fish consumption is associated with lower rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity scores among participants in an RA cohort. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from participants in the Evaluation of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Predictors of Events in Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort study. Frequency of fish consumption was assessed by a baseline food frequency questionnaire assessing usual diet in the past year. Multivariable, total energy–adjusted linear regression models provided effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for frequency of fish consumption (i.e., never to <1 time/month, 1 time/month to <1 time/week, 1 time/week, and ≥2 times/week) on baseline Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) using the C-reactive protein (CRP) level. We also estimated the difference in DAS28-CRP associated with increasing fish consumption by 1 serving per week. Results Among 176 participants, the median DAS28-CRP score 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