AIP for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study & Qualitative Research Out of New Zealand (Ep 104)

What happens when people living with rheumatoid arthritis follow the Autoimmune Protocol for eight weeks? In the first clinical pilot study investigating AIP for rheumatoid arthritis, researchers in New Zealand documented promising improvements in patient-reported disease activity, pain, fatigue, sleep, and quality of life. But what happened when the intervention ended—and were those improvements sustainable?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott continues her medical research review series with a deep dive into two studies led by researcher Julianne Taylor and her colleagues. She examines how the original pilot study was designed, what researchers measured, and what the results tell us about using AIP alongside conventional rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Mickey also explores newly published qualitative research that followed the same participants through interviews immediately after the intervention and one year later. These findings offer a fascinating look at the challenges of following an elimination diet, the importance of support, and how participants navigated food reintroductions and developed more personalized approaches to eating. She also discusses the limitations of this early research and what future studies could tell us about the effectiveness and sustainability of AIP.

• Why researchers are investigating dietary interventions for rheumatoid arthritis
• How the first AIP pilot study for rheumatoid arthritis was designed, including its four-week control period and eight-week Core AIP intervention
• What researchers found about patient-reported disease activity, pain, fatigue, sleep, and quality of life
• Why seven of the nine participants reported improvements, while two experienced little benefit or worsening symptoms
• What the qualitative interviews revealed about motivation, meal preparation, social challenges, and the importance of support
• What happened one year later when participants were no longer following the structured intervention
• How participants approached food reintroductions and developed more flexible, personalized diets
• Why systematic reintroduction and long-term sustainability are essential parts of the AIP process
• How these findings relate to the updated Autoimmune Protocol, including Core and Modified AIP
• Why AIP should complement—not replace—appropriate medical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
• What larger clinical trials and future research are needed to establish the effectiveness of AIP

• The Effect of an Autoimmune Protocol Diet in Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Single-Arm Crossover Pilot Feasibility Study — Julianne Taylor and colleagues
• Exploring Participant Experiences With the Autoimmune Protocol Diet and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study — Journal of Nutritional Science (2026)
• Episode 88: Interview with Julianne Taylor about the first AIP pilot study for rheumatoid arthritis
• Episode 59: AIP Research on Inflammatory Bowel Disease — Pilot Study and Quality of Life