From the Guidelines
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is not recommended as an effective treatment for reducing inflammation from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2023 by the American College of Rheumatology, found that there is not sufficient evidence to recommend the use of dietary supplements, including baking soda, for RA management 1. The study emphasizes a "food first" approach, which prioritizes using high-quality foods to obtain necessary nutrients, and suggests that rheumatology clinicians should consider involving registered dieticians as part of the interprofessional care team to assist people with RA who desire to modify their diet as part of their RA management plan.
Some key points to consider when managing RA include:
- The importance of maintaining a healthy body weight, as supported by the Voting Panel 1
- The use of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic agents, which have been extensively studied and proven effective in clinical trials
- The potential benefits of additional integrative interventions, such as standardized self-management programs, CBT, mind-body approaches, acupuncture, massage therapy, and thermal modalities, although the evidence supporting these interventions is of very low to low certainty 1
- The need for shared decision-making between patients and clinicians when deciding whether to use these interventions, due to the low certainty evidence supporting most recommendations 1
It is essential to discuss any complementary approaches to managing RA with your healthcare provider before trying them, as even natural substances like baking soda can interact with medications or cause side effects such as elevated blood pressure, fluid retention, or stomach issues when consumed regularly in significant amounts.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Baking Soda in Reducing Inflammation from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to support the effectiveness of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in reducing inflammation from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies focus on various treatments for RA, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biological-response modifiers, and other pharmacologic treatments 2, 3, 5, 6.
- Some studies discuss the development of new compounds and therapies for the treatment of RA, such as SYK inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and targeted-molecular sDMARDs 3, 5.
- However, none of the studies mention baking soda as a potential treatment for reducing inflammation from RA.
Available Treatments for RA
- Current therapies used to treat RA include NSAIDs, DMARDs, biological-response modifiers, and glucocorticoids 2, 3, 5, 6.
- DMARDs, such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and leflunomide, are used as first-line therapy for newly diagnosed cases of RA 2, 4, 6.
- Biological-response modifiers, such as infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab, are also used to treat RA, particularly in patients who do not respond to DMARDs 2, 5, 6.