A Molecular Insight into Significance of Functional Foods in Better Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, autoimmune disorder of complex etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation of joints with severe pain and swelling. Complexity in etiopathogenesis, side effects of available medications, and their associated comorbidities calls out for the need for safe targeting therapeutic approach for early and better management of the disease. In past decades, researchers have demonstrated the potential of nutritional factors in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through diet with minimal adverse effects. These factors include functional foods that not only maintain the body’s homeostasis but also modulate disease manifestations via regulation of cellular signaling, redox status, inflammation, bone remodeling, and apoptosis, inter alia . Functional foods such as turmeric, red grapes, ginger, green tea, garlic, and cinnamon are being extensively studied to minimize disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. The current review emphasizes the role of some functional foods and their target signaling pathways to promote their usage in better management of arthritis. Graphical Abstract x