[Nutritional status of Danish patients with rheumatoid arthritis and effects of a diet adjusted in energy intake, fish content and antioxidants]. / Ernaeringstilstanden for danske patienter med reumatoid arthritis og virkningen af en kost der korrigeres for energiindhold, fisk og antioxidanter.

This study deals with the nutritional status of Danish rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and addresses the question whether or not RA can be directly influenced by dietary manipulation. In a prospective, single-blinded study of six months' duration, 109 patients with active RA were randomly assigned to treatment with or without a specialized diet. The energy consumption was adjusted to normal standards for body-weight and the intake of fish and antioxidants was increased. A daily food diary was completed by the patients, and the total intake of 47 different food-elements was calculated. Nutritional status together with disease activity parameters were recorded. At baseline, the Danish RA-patients had neglected food habits with a significant reduction in intake of total energy, of D-vitamin and of E-vitamin. A very low intake of n-3 fatty acids was also found. During the study, 28 of the 109 patients dropped out, introducing a confounding effect on the overall result. In the remaining 81, those following the diet demonstrated a significant improvement in the duration of morning stiffness, the number of swollen joints, the pain status and reduced the cost of medicine, while doctors' global assessment, laboratory data, X-ray and the daily activities were unaltered. In conclusion, dietary analysis and appropriate, corrective advice should be offered to Danish RA patients.

Rett syndrome.

A Case of Rett syndrome in a 20-year old female patient in a mental retardation institution is described. Clinically and according to the case history she is very typical for the syndrome, and the different stages, the etiological theories and some efforts in order to find etiological factors are surveyed.