If your child has juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), you may have seen lists of "trigger foods" to avoid. The reassuring answer is that no single food has been proven, in good-quality research, to make JIA worse. Most studies on diet and arthritis have been in adults, so their findings do not automatically apply to children.
What the evidence says about food and JIA.
Be wary of "trigger food" lists
Arthritis UK says there is no specific list of foods to avoid if you have arthritis, although some foods may increase inflammation in some people (Arthritis UK, n.d.a).
Foods worth limiting, for everyone
| Food | What the evidence says | A sensible approach |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar (fizzy drinks, sweets) | Can trigger the release of cytokines, which increase inflammation (Arthritis UK, n.d.a) | Keep as an occasional treat |
| Saturated fat (fatty and processed meat, some dairy) | Thought to increase inflammation (Arthritis UK, n.d.a) | Smaller portions and leaner choices |
| Too much omega-6 (some vegetable oils) | Large amounts may add to inflammation (Arthritis UK, n.d.a) | Use olive or rapeseed oil more often |
| Salt | Too much raises blood pressure. Children need less than adults: no more than 3g a day at 4 to 6 years, 5g at 7 to 10, and 6g from age 11 (NHS, n.d.a) | Cut down on crisps and ready meals |
Foods blamed without good evidence
- Nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, potatoes): Arthritis UK says there is no link with inflammation.
- Citrus fruits: no clear link, and some evidence suggests they may help.
- Gluten: no research directly links it to any type of arthritis. Only cut it out if a doctor has diagnosed coeliac disease (Arthritis UK, n.d.a).
Key insight: the real risk is cutting out too much
Children with JIA are already more likely to have problems with growth, bones and nutrition, and many have low vitamin D (Grammatikopoulou et al., 2023). Cutting out whole food groups without expert help could make this worse. Always talk to your child's rheumatology team first, and ask about seeing a paediatric dietitian.
Medicines and nutrition
- Methotrexate works against folic acid, so doctors usually prescribe folic acid tablets to reduce side effects such as sickness. Take them exactly as prescribed, and not on the same day as methotrexate (NHS, n.d.b). Food alone does not replace prescribed folic acid.
- Steroids taken long term can affect blood sugar and growth, so your team will keep an eye on this (Grammatikopoulou et al., 2023).
What helps
- A Mediterranean-style diet with vegetables, fruit, beans, wholegrains, olive oil and fish may help with some types of arthritis (Arthritis UK, n.d.b).
- A healthy weight takes pressure off painful joints.
Early research: a small Swedish study tested a strict diet (the specific carbohydrate diet) for 4 weeks in 15 children with mild JIA. Morning stiffness, pain and physical function improved, but there was no comparison group, so larger studies are needed (Berntson, 2021). Do not try a restrictive diet like this without your child's team.
Make it a family affair: healthier eating works best when the whole family does it, rather than singling out your child.
For more support, see our posts on Arthritis UK's Young People and Families Service and Eating to Ease the Ache.
References
Arthritis UK (n.d.a) Do any foods make arthritis worse? Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/living-with-arthritis/health-and-wellbeing/eating-well-with-arthritis/do-any-foods-make-arthritis-worse/
Arthritis UK (n.d.b) Are there any foods that help with arthritis? Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/living-with-arthritis/health-and-wellbeing/eating-well-with-arthritis/are-there-any-foods-that-help-with-arthritis/
Berntson, L. (2021) 'A pilot study of possible anti-inflammatory effects of the specific carbohydrate diet in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis', Pediatric Rheumatology, 19(1), 88. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-021-00577-3
Grammatikopoulou, M.G. et al. (2023) 'Nutritional aspects of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: an A to Z for dietitians', Children, 10(2), 203. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/children10020203
NHS (n.d.a) Salt: the facts. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/salt-nutrition/
NHS (n.d.b) How and when to take methotrexate. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/methotrexate/how-and-when-to-take-methotrexate/
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Important medical disclaimer
The content provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP, psychiatrist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Never start, stop or change a prescribed medicine without speaking to your prescriber first.
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