Treatment With Specific Carbohydrate Diet in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Children classified with JIA, in a low-to-medium disease activity and without having changed DMARD or bDMARD in the last 12 weeks are included. Only motivated children and parents can participate. Before inclusion the family are informed orally about the study plan, the diet and practical issues regarding the study and they receive written information including for example a product list and a recipe booklet. A dietician and the principal investigator follows the child and parents during visits, by mail and phone. After the baseline visit, the family has two weeks to get used to the new diet. At baseline, after two, four and twelve weeks on the diet the child is examined, blood exams are performed and blood is stored at -70, fecal samples and urine is also collected. At inclusion and after four weeks saliva sample for bacteria is collected. The child fills in the child health assessment questionnaire, (CHAQ) for a score of the physical ability and DisabKids for an overall assessment of the childs well-being.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants should fulfill criteria for JIA according to the ILAR criteria
• Participants should not be older than 16 years at onset of disease
• Participants should have a low-medium disease activity with an E-SR of 30 at the most and/or no more than two active joints at inclusion.
• DMARD and bDMARD should not have been changed within the last 12 weeks before inclusion.
• Any gastro- intestinal complaints should be investigated before inclusion.
• Fecal calprotectin should be normal.
• The child as well as the parents need to be motivated for the child to try a dietary intervention for at least four weeks, preferably longer.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with the systemic category of JIA.
• Children with an unstable inflammatory situation with > 2 inflamed joints and/or an E-SR of more than 30.