• RA is an autoimmune disease characterized by painful polyarthritis and articular deformities, along with systemic complications.

• The present study tries to elucidate the role of potassium supplementation in the management of RA.

• This randomized, assessor-blind, active-controlled drug trial of 16 weeks duration was carried out on 172 RA patients at the Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Pune.

• There were three treatment arms:

1. Arm A- potassium-rich vegetarian diet

2. Arm B- arm-A diet plus potassium-enriched food supplement

3. Arm C- routine diet

• The study found a substantial improvement in joint pain and function in patients with chronic RA was observed when a planned vegetarian diet enriched with increased oral potassium intake was added to the ongoing standard of care of management.

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