Nutrition and Rheumatic Disease / Nutrition and Health (PDF)

From the reviews:

This book, part of a series of multiauthored titles on nutrition and health, is one of the few books to systematically evaluate the scientific literature regarding the role of nutrition in the development and management of rheumatic disease.

The purpose is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based summary of nutrition and rheumatic disease. The contributing authors are experts in the fields of nutrition or rheumatoid disease research. Each provides an evidence-based assessment of nutrients and supplements in the management of the various rheumatoid diseases and syndromes as well as areas which are in need of further research.

The book is directed at health professionals who are involved in the management of patients with rheumatoid disease. It is also of value to advanced students in nutrition or health related disciplines. It generally is written at a level that requires general, but not advanced, expertise on readers' part.

The 15 chapters include general introductions to rheumatoid disease, nutrition assessment, and immunology, and specific discussions of the various rheumatic diseases or pathophysiologies. Because the authors provide expertly weighted summaries of the literature rather than the data itself, there is a smaller than average number of black-and-white illustrations. Each chapter includes 50 to 150 citations that include recent as well as classic studies. The index is detailed and easy to use.

This valuable addition to the field continues the success of the series and is a valuable resource for health professionals. It provides evidence-based conclusions that can be used to advise patients and answer their questions. As noted by the editor, there is no evidence of a diet for rheumatoid disease, but the reviews identify nutritional approaches that can help manage some of the symptoms and functional declines associated with rheumatoid disease.