Table 1. Environmental factors affecting the natural history of RA.
Environmental exposures and effects that have been shown to impact the total and/or stage-specific course of RA development.
| Environmental exposure | Patients with RA/Predominant Direction of Risk |
Subjects At-Risk of developing RA and/or with pre-clinical RA/Predominant Direction of Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking | Yes/Increase | Yes/Increase |
| Omega-3 FA use | Yes/Decrease | Yes/Decrease |
| Oral contraceptive use | Yes/Decrease | Yes/Decrease |
| Breast-feeding | Yes/Decrease | Uncertain |
| Earlier age at menarche | Yes/Variable | Uncertain |
| Body mass index | Yes/Increase | Yes/Increase |
| Decaf coffee consumption | Yes/Increase | Uncertain |
| Silica dust, solvents, mineral oil, textile dust | Yes/Increase | Yes/Increase |
| Physical workload | Yes/Increase | Uncertain |
| Proximity to road/Air pollution | Yes/Increase | No |
| UV Light | Yes/Decrease | Uncertain |
| Alcohol | Yes/Decrease | Uncertain |