Anti-inflammatory Diet for Autoimmune Disease: New Research (AI Protocol)

What is the Autoimmune Protocol (AI Protocol)?

The Autoimmune Protocol (AI Protocol) is another term for an anti-inflammatory diet. Consequently, new clinical data shows that this specific eating plan can directly help patients manage autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus. For this reason, adopting targeted dietary changes has become a cornerstone of modern holistic disease management.

---

NOTE: Johns Hopkins University Press, publisher of The Lupus Encyclopedia, is a nonprofit publisher. If you purchase JHUP books, like The Lupus Encyclopedia, you support projects like Project MUSE.

---

Anti-inflammatory recommendations
Main recommendations (WHAT)	Diet strategies (HOW)
Increase omega 3 intake (omega 6/3 2/1) and decrease unsaturated fat (red meat, frying and refined oils, pre-cooked food)	The diet must contain fatty and white fish such as two-four days a week Daily intake of avocado, sesame seeds or tahini, and flaxseed oil
Increase the consumption of green leaf vegetables and fruits	Focus on daily green leaf vegetables (arugula, broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, brussels) Drink a daily home-made green juice (made of fruits and green vegetables)
Introduce the consumption of prebiotics and probiotics	Prioritize daily green leaf vegetables (arugula, lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, green beans) Enjoy daily home-made green juice (made of fruits and green vegetables) Eat daily yogurt or miso
Incorporate enzymatic fruits into your routine	Consume daily enzymatic fruit (pineapple, mango or papaya) as a snack
Eliminate sauces while introducing anti-inflammatory condiments	Season your food with turmeric and black pepper
Diminish solanaceae vegetables and choose anti-inflammatory alternatives	Forbid the consumption of eggplant, tomatoes and potatoes; instead, suggest consumption of garlic, onion, carrot, pumpkin, zucchini or others.
Swap out red meat for alternative types of proteins	Reduce animal meat to chicken or turkey to twice a week Aim for two-three times a week to introduce legumes Choose whole grains
Work to reduce the consumption of gluten	Minimize the intake of wheat bread and change it for rye bread or corn tortillas
Avoid dairy products (except yogurt) due to big protein content	Stay away from dairy products and increase consumption of vegetable milks (almond, rice, coconut)
Try to introduce chia seeds for high quantities of tryptophan	Use these as suggestions for salads and/or juices
Isocaloric diet: 20% calories from protein, 50% from carbohydrates, and 30% from fat
Bustamante MF et al., Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2020.

The 2020 Anti-Inflammatory Diet Study

Dr. Monica Guma, MD, from UCSD presented these breakthrough results at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meeting. Specifically, her research study evaluated how an anti-inflammatory “ITIS” diet impacts patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, Dr. Guma kindly provided permission to share these clinical data slices.

Importantly, this study matters for lupus patients because both conditions share similar autoimmune roots. Furthermore, “The Lupus Secrets” already recommends a strict anti-inflammatory diet (AI Protocol) for lupus management. Although we still need larger clinical trials, this study represents a major step forward.

A Typical Day on the AI Protocol

Are you wondering what a typical day looks like on this plan? Fortunately, the sample meal plan layout above outlines a balanced approach to reducing inflammation. As a side note, Dr. Guma selected highly motivated RA patients who maintained their regular medications while following this dietary structure.

Furthermore, researchers measured joint inflammation at multiple intervals. Specifically, these checkups occurred two weeks before the study, at the baseline start, and two weeks after adopting the diet. Additionally, they collected stool samples to track changes in gut bacteria.

Study Results: How Did Patients Improve?

After only two weeks on the anti-inflammatory diet, patients showed significant clinical improvements. For instance, overall disease activity decreased. Consequently, participants experienced fewer tender or swollen joints.

Clinical Proof of Inflammation Reduction

Scientists use a measurement tool called the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). As a result, the data charts prove that CDAI scores dropped significantly. If you look closely at the data on the right, the study achieved excellent mathematical “p-values,” confirming these changes were not accidental.

How the Diet Changes Your Gut Microbiome

The anti-inflammatory diet completely altered the gut bacteria profile in just 14 days. As a result, patients who achieved the best physical improvements also developed a much greater diversity in their gut microbiome.

Shifting Your Microflora to Suppress Flare-Ups

This suggests that your food choices directly rewrite your microbiome environment to suppress active disease. Ultimately, this biological link gives us immense hope that the AI protocol can treat other autoimmune conditions like lupus in an identical way.

Building Your Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Lupus

Medical literature strongly supports several recommendations found in Dr. Bustamante’s protocol. For example, eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, avoiding omega-6 fats, and consuming prebiotics directly improves lupus outcomes.

However, other elements have less rigorous evidence behind them. For instance, avoiding nightshade plants (solanaceae) and going completely gluten-free lack massive clinical trials, though they may still reduce systemic inflammation for certain individuals.

---

Learn More About Managing Lupus Inflammation

You can find deep tactical advice on diet and lifestyle adjustments in chapters 38 and 39 of The Lupus Encyclopedia, Edition 2. In addition, you can use the comprehensive index to look up your specific symptoms and medications.

Therefore, if you value these free medical insights, please visit our Support Page to help us maintain this educational platform.

---

Join the Conversation: Share Your Experience

What changes have you noticed after altering your diet? Alternatively, do you have questions about the ITIS diet or the AI Protocol for Dr. Thomas? In conclusion, click “Leave a Comment” above to join our community discussion.

---

Scientific Reference

Coras R, Martino C, Gauglitz J, et al. Rheumatoid Arthritis Improvement After Exposure to an Anti-Inflammatory “ITIS” Diet Is Associated with Changes of Gut Microbiome and Systemic Metabolome. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020; 72 (suppl 10).

Author: Don Thomas, MD, author of The Lupus Encyclopedia and The Lupus Secrets.

For more in-depth information on Anti-inflammatory Diet for Autoimmune Disease: New Research (AI Protocol):

Read more in The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2

Look up your symptoms, conditions, and medications in the Index of The Lupus Encyclopedia

If you enjoy the information from The Lupus Encyclopedia, please click the “SUPPORT” button at the top of the page to learn how you can help. 

---

What are your comments and opinions?

If you have lupus, what has your experience been? What do you recommend for other patients?

Do you have any questions to ask Dr. Thomas?

Please click on “Leave a Comment” above to comment.

Please support “The Lupus Encyclopedia” blog post page

Click on “SUPPORT” at the top of the page to learn how you can support “The Lupus Encyclopedia“

This article includes contributions from