Table 3.
The mean intake of vitamin D, omega-3 FA, folate and dietary supplement use during the previous year from study inclusion in the whole study sample as well as in different EULAR response groups
| EULAR response at 3 months | ||||
| Total study sample | Non-/moderate | Good | ||
| Nutrient intake | (n=727) | (n=399) | (n=328) | p Value* |
| Vitamin D | ||||
| Dietary intake, µg/day, mean±SD | 5.86±2.30 (RDI 10–20) | 5.68±2.15 | 6.07±2.45 | 0.062 |
| Supplementation, n (%) | 57 (7.8) | 29 (7.3) | 28 (8.5) | 0.580 |
| Omega-3 FA | ||||
| Dietary intake, g/day, mean±SD | 0.68±0.35 (RDI ≥2.15)† | 0.65±0.30 | 0.71±0.39 | 0.040 |
| Supplementation, n (%) | 142 (19.5) | 85 (21.3) | 57 (17.4) | 0.222 |
| Folate | ||||
| Dietary intake, µg/day, mean±SD | 308.39±107.09 (RDI 300–400) | 308.28±115.00 | 308.52±101.57 | 0.417 |
| Supplementation, n (%)‡ | 113 (15.5) | 67 (16.8) | 46 (14.0) | 0.355 |
RDI according to Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012.45 The recommendations are age and gender specific. Women and men ≥75 years are recommended a daily intake of 20 µg of vitamin D. Both women and men are recommended a daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids that equals 1 energy per cent (E%) or more of the total daily energy intake. Women in fertile age are recommended a daily intake of 400 µg of folate, other women as well as men are recommended 300 µg.
*Mean intakes and proportions of supplementation between non-response/moderate response and good EULAR response were compared with Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson’s χ2 test, respectively.
†RDI for this particular study sample equals ≥1 E% of the total energy intake of the study sample (1939 kcal).
‡Folate supplementation use before treatment start. All patients who eventually started MTX treatment were also receiving folate supplements.
BMI, body mass index; EIRA, Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis; EULAR, European League Against Rheumatism; FA, fatty acid; MTX, methotrexate; PA, physical activity; RDI, recommended daily intake.