The evaluation of nightshade elimination diet (NED) on inflammatory and rheumatologic markers of rheumatoid arthritis patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease with a global prevalence rate of 1%. Patients with RA often associate specific foods like tomatoes and eggplants with adverse symptoms. These plants contain solanine, which could potentially contribute to bone and joint damage. Despite patient reports, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of nightshades on patients with RA. This study aims to assess the effect of nightshade elimination diet (NED) on inflammatory and rheumatologic marker levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients for the first time.