Can We Treat SLE with Special Foods or Diets

Unfortunately, there are few well-conducted studies regarding the treatment of SLE with foods. From animal studies, we know that restricting the amount of calorie (the amount of energy in food) eaten tends to prolong life and reduce heart disease in mice. There are special mice that develop a condition similar to SLE. When they are fed a diet rich in polyunsaturated fat, they developed less kidney damage and lower antibody levels. Polyunsaturated fat is found in vegetable oils, like margarine and corn oil, while saturated fat is found in food made from animals, like lard, ghee and butter. We also know that too much or too little iron in the body can worsen kidney damage and shorten life in rats. One study in humans found that polyunsaturated fat diet improves the blood chemical tests in twelve lupus patients, but they remained the same from other points of view.

In summary, there is no evidence that special foods or diets can be used to treat SLE. However, the lessons learnt from animals are generally useful: we should have enough iron and polyunsaturated fat and we should not overeat. It is not clear if these help treat SLE, but they are good practices anyway.

How, then, should a lupus patient eat? The key is to take a healthy diet, just like anybody else. The Food Guide Pyramid from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides some good concepts for us to follow. It suggests the number of servings of each food group we should consume in a day. Going from the bottom of the Pyramid upwards, we should consume 6 to 11 servings of the carbohydrate group (bread, cereal and rice), 2 to 4 of the fruit group, 3 to 5 of the vegetable group, 2 to 3 of the meat group and we should use very little oil and fat. What is a serving? Well, it is difficult to define but examples of a serving each are a slice of bread, one cup of raw leafy vegetables, three-quarters cup of fruit juice, two to three ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry or fish.

If you are interested in the efficient treatment for SLE or if you are suffering from the complications of SLE, remember that we are here to help.