WebMD Health News
Aug. 19, 2005 -- Brightly colored fruits and vegetables may help lower
the risk of developing certain forms of arthritis by fighting
inflammation.
Researchers found that a modest increase in antioxidants from brightly
colored fruits and vegetables -- was associated with a lower risk of inflammatory arthritis,
such as rheumatoid arthritis.
About Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the U.S. population. It
is three times more common in women than in men. It usually occurs in
people 20 to 50 years old, but young children and the elderly can also
develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs in
joints on both sides of the body (such as hands, wrists, or knees).
This symmetry helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other types
of arthritis.
Antioxidants Come Out Fighting
Oxidation is a normal process that occurs in our bodies. However, it
produces harmful by-products called free radicals. Antioxidants help
scavenge these damaging substances.
It has long been known that oxidation plays a role in the joint damage
seen in rheumatoid arthritis, write the researchers. They add that
antioxidants may suppress inflammation by getting rid of the free
radicals.
The new study's findings support what researchers have suspected for
some time -- that antioxidants in brightly colored fruits and
vegetables offer protection against inflammatory arthritis.
The researchers, members of the Arthritis Research Campaign's
Epidemiology Unit, in Manchester, England, worked with researchers from
the Institute of Public Health at the University of Cambridge.
Vitamin C Also Important
Twenty-five thousand participants aged 45 to 74 were asked to complete
a questionnaire regarding their daily diet. Participants were followed
over a nine-year period to identify which developed inflammatory
arthritis, including RA.
Of the 25,000 participants, 88 developed cases of inflammatory arthritis.
The researchers found an association with certain antioxidants called
carotenoids (beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin) -- which are found in
yellow/orange fruits and vegetables -- and a lower chance of developing
inflammatory arthritis.
"We found that the average daily beta-cryptoxanthin intake of the 88
patients who developed inflammatory polyarthritis was 40% lower than
those who hadn't, and their intake of another carotenoid, zeaxanthin,
was 20% lower," researcher Dorothy Pattison, states in a news release.
Those in the top third for beta-cryptoxanthin intake were only half as
likely to develop inflammatory arthritis as those in the lowest third,
according to Pattison. Vitamin C was also found to be an important
factor, she says.
US National Institute of Health
In spite of the great advances that have been made in the development of new drugs for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), many patients are interested in alternative treatments like dietary therapy. Although the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown, the inflammation resulting from the immunological reaction is quite well described. .....There is some evidence for a positive effect of antioxidants on clinical symptoms of RA [5, 6]. .....
Discussion
This pilot study was conducted to obtain some first indications for potential beneficial effects of an antioxidant intervention on clinically relevant parameters for rheumatoid arthritis. .....
A limited number of clinical intervention studies is available which support the therapeutic or prophylactic activity of antioxidants in the pathogenesis of RA.....
This open pilot study therefore should be viewed as a first step in assessing potential beneficial effects of the antioxidants tested on rheumatoid arthritis. The data indicate there may be potential in using mixes of antioxidants in the treatment of RA alongside drug treatment so that drug dosage may be reduced while hopefully retaining efficacy...
How Fruits, Veggies May Fight Arthritis
Antioxidants May Help Decrease Inflammation, Study Shows
Web MD Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. Many experts believe this damage is a factor in the development of blood vessel disease (atherosclerosis), cancer, and other conditions.
You are exposed to free radicals:
* Through by-products of normal processes that take place in your body (such as the burning of sugars for energy and the release of digestive enzymes to break down food).
* When the body breaks down certain medicines.
* Through pollutants.
Antioxidants include some vitamins (such as vitamins C and E), some minerals (such as selenium), and flavonoids, which are found in plants. The best sources of antioxidants are fruits and vegetables. You can find flavonoids in fruits, red wine, and teas. You can also buy antioxidant supplements.
One study showed that using vitamin A, E, and beta carotene supplements may increase your risk of premature death.1 Further study is needed to look at the effects of these antioxidants as well as vitamin C and selenium. It is best to obtain antioxidants from a healthy diet.
What are antioxidants used for?
People use antioxidants to help treat or prevent some medical conditions, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), some cancers, macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and some arthritis-related conditions.
The treatment of CAD with antioxidant supplements as well as with traditional medicine continues to be researched. Some experts believe antioxidant vitamins may help in treating CAD, although so far studies have not proved this.
Are antioxidants safe?
Until more studies are done, it is best to get your antioxidants from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables rather than from supplements. Taking supplements in high doses can be harmful. No single antioxidant alone can protect the body. Most people should eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements in the same way it regulates medicines. A dietary supplement can be sold with limited or no research on how well it works.
Always tell your doctor if you are using a dietary supplement or if you are thinking about combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on a dietary supplement. This is especially important for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
When using dietary supplements, keep in mind the following:
* Like conventional medicines, dietary supplements may cause side effects, trigger allergic reactions, or interact with prescription and nonprescription medicines or other supplements you are taking. A side effect or interaction with another medicine or supplement may make your health worse.
* How dietary supplements are manufactured may not be standardized. Because of this, how well they work or any side effects they cause may differ among brands or even within different lots of the same brand. The form of a supplement that you buy in health food or grocery stores may not be the same as the form used in research.
* Other than for vitamins and minerals, the long-term effects of most dietary supplements are not known.
Antioxidants
Better Health. Gov The process of oxidation in the human body damages cell membranes and other structures including cellular proteins, lipids and DNA. When oxygen is metabolised, it creates ‘free radicals’ which steal electrons from other molecules, causing damage.
The body can cope with some free radicals and needs them to function effectively. However, an overload of free radicals has been linked to certain diseases, including heart disease, liver disease and some cancers. Oxidation can be accelerated by stress, cigarette smoking, alcohol, sunlight, pollution and other factors.
Antioxidants and free radicals
Antioxidants are found in certain foods that neutralise free radicals. These include the nutrient antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals copper, zinc and selenium. Other dietary food compounds, such as the phytochemicals in plants and zoochemicals from animal products, are believed to have greater antioxidant effects than either vitamins or minerals. These are called the non-nutrient antioxidants and include phytochemicals, such as lycopenes in tomatoes, and anthocyanins found in cranberries.
The effect of free radicals
Some of the degenerative conditions caused by free radicals include:
* Deterioration of the eye lens, which contributes to blindness.
* Inflammation of the joints (arthritis).
* Damage to nerve cells in the brain, which contributes to conditions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
* Acceleration of the ageing process.
* Increased risk of coronary heart disease, since free radicals encourage low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to adhere to artery walls.
* Certain cancers, triggered by damaged cell DNA.
The disease-fighting antioxidants
A diet high in antioxidants may reduce the risk of many diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers. Antioxidants scavenge the free radicals from the body cells, and prevent or reduce the damage caused by oxidation.
The protective effect of antioxidants continues to be studied around the world. For instance, men who eat plenty of the antioxidant lycopene (found in tomatoes) may be less likely than other men to develop prostate cancer. Lutein, found in spinach and corn, has been linked to a lower incidence of eye lens degeneration and associated blindness in the elderly. Flavonoids, such as the tea catechins found in green tea, are believed to contribute to the low rates of heart disease in Japan.
Sources of antioxidants
Good sources of antioxidants include:
* Allium sulphur compounds - leeks, onions and garlic.
* Anthocyanins - eggplant, grapes and berries.
* Beta-carotene - pumpkin, mangoes, apricots, carrots, spinach and parsley.
* Catechins - red wine and tea.
* Copper - seafood, lean meat, milk and nuts.
* Cryptoxanthins - red capsicum, pumpkin and mangoes.
* Flavonoids - tea, green tea, citrus fruits, red wine, onion and apples.
* Indoles - cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.
* Isoflavonoids - soybeans, tofu, lentils, peas and milk.
* Lignans - sesame seeds, bran, whole grains and vegetables.
* Lutein - leafy greens like spinach, and corn.
* Lycopene - tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon.
* Manganese - seafood, lean meat, milk and nuts.
* Polyphenols - thyme and oregano.
* Selenium - seafood, offal, lean meat and whole grains.
* Vitamin C - oranges, blackcurrants, kiwi fruit, mangoes, broccoli, spinach, capsicum and strawberries.
* Vitamin E - vegetable oils (such as wheatgerm oil), avocados, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
* Zinc - seafood, lean meat, milk and nuts.
* Zoochemicals - red meat, offal and fish. Also derived from the plants animals eat.
Vitamin supplements
Some studies suggest that antioxidants are less effective when isolated from food and presented in tablet form. For instance, vitamin A (beta-carotene) has been associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers but an increase in others, such as lung cancer in smokers, if vitamin A is purified from foodstuffs.
A study examining the effects of vitamin E found that it didn’t offer the same benefits when taken as a supplement. Also, antioxidant minerals or vitamins can act as pro-oxidants or damaging ‘oxidants’ if they are consumed at levels significantly above the recommended amounts for dietary intake.
A well-balanced diet, which includes consuming antioxidants from whole foods, is best. If you insist on taking a supplement, seek supplements that contain all nutrients at the recommended levels.
General recommendations
Research is divided over whether or not antioxidant supplements offer the same health benefits as antioxidants in foods. It is recommended that people eat a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy products every day. The diet should include five daily serves of fruit and vegetables. One serve is a medium-sized piece of fruit or a half-cup of cooked vegetables. See your doctor or dietitian for advice.
Where to get help
* Your doctor
* An accredited practising dietitian, contact the Dietitians Association of Australia
Things to remember
* The process of oxidation in the human body produces chemicals called free radicals, which damage cell membranes and other structures.
* Free radicals have been linked to a variety of diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers.
* Antioxidants are compounds in foods that scavenge and neutralise free radicals.
* Evidence suggests that antioxidant supplements don’t work as well as the naturally occurring antioxidants in foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Can you prevent Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and joint pain?
Preventative Health Guide . com Arthritis; If you've ever spent much time with an elderly person, you've heard about the associated aches and pains of the disease. Or perhaps you suffer from the disease already, and you know full well how uncomfortable it can be. It affects a good percentage of the population, so you're not alone, regardless of what age you are.
But is it something you have to live with? Now? In your golden years? Ever? The answer is no, of course, but you have to know what to do to prevent it, slow it, and even possibly eradicate it - and the cure doesn't come in a prescription bottle.
Before we get into things you can do - right now - to help prevent or alleviate the symptoms, let's take a quick look at what it really is.
What is it?
Arthritis is a complex and widespread disease. The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
In osteoarthritis, the cartilage between two bones begins to wear down, causing stress between the two bones. This stress produces inflammation and occasionally bone spurs. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system actually begins attacking the cartilage and synovial linings in the joints between bones.
In both of these forms of arthritis, inflammation is always present, which makes the situation even more painful than before.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of arthritis don't vary much between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In osteoarthritis, you can expect to experience prolonged intermittent pain in one or more joints, stiffness after inactivity, a grinding feeling when using a particular joint (which occurs more often in advanced stages of osteoarthritis), and/or swelling and pain in a joint.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the most common initial symptom is swelling, tenderness, and pain in one or more joints, followed by pain and stiffness after inactivity, fatigue, and prolonged symptoms that don't seem to abate.
Who's at Risk?
The answer to this question is, namely, everyone. But there are certain factors that can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These risk factors include:
• Age. As you near the age of 65, your chances of developing osteoarthritis improve exponentially.
• Obesity. Because of the increased weight strain on joints, those who suffer from obesity have a greater chance of developing osteoarthritis.
• Female gender. After the age of 65, women have a much higher risk of developing osteoporosis
• Overuse. If you play repetitive sports, have a job that requires repetitive motion throughout the day, or are engaged in any activity that, over time, consistently uses one or more joints on a regular basis, your chances of developing OA increase.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. If you've been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease - you have a greater chance of suffering from osteoarthritis as you age.
The usual prescribed treatments
The most commonly prescribed treatment for arthritis is drugs called NSAIDs (non-steroidal antiinflammatories) and/or aspirin. These drugs serve as antiinflammatories and mild pain-killers, but they also have severe side effects if taken over a long period of time - effects like stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and liver dysfunction.
Recently, doctors began prescribing different medications in lieu of NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors. These don't upset the stomach like the traditional NSAIDs and aspirin do, but they have their own list of potential dangerous side effects, like bowel perforation and other intestinal problems.
Both of these types of drugs do well at staving off inflammation and killing pain, but they only mask the symptoms. In fact, one could say that there's been a failure of prescription medication for arthritis. Why? Because they don't treat the problem - and that problem is oxidative stress.
There's only one way to effectively quell oxidative stress, and that's through proper nutritional supplementation with antioxidants and vitamins. However, because of the traditional doctor's bias against nutritional supplements, you'll hear less about them from your physician and more about the latest prescription medication.
What Can I Do to Treat My Arthritis Naturally?
The first step in helping to prevent or reverse arthritis is proper cellular nutrition. You want to fill your body with good antioxidants, so the free radicals roaming around in your system are neutralized and flushed out of your body before they can do more harm.
In the past, good cellular nutrition meant eating the right fruits and veggies every day, but things are more complicated now. Because of the degradation of our food supply, it's harder to get the good antioxidants you need straight from the grocery store. Of course, eating a healthy balanced diet full of fruits and veggies is still a good start, but you need to make sure you're properly supplementing your diet with antioxidants and minerals.
Nutritional Supplements for Arthritis
If you're currently experiencing these problems, or want to prevent ever developing associated symptoms, here are some important ingredients you should look for in quality nutritional supplements or individual supplementation:
• Biovflavonoids - these are antioxidants often found in colorful fruits and veggies, but are important in a nutritional supplement, as well.
• Fish oil - you've probably heard a lot about fish oil recently, and for good reason. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are incredible defenses against oxidative stress.
• Grape-seed extract - potentially one of the most effective antioxidants available, grape seed extract has been found to help neutralize free radicals for up to three days after taking it.
• Vitamin C - we've all heard how important vitamin C is in your diet, but are you getting enough of it? Some natural health practitioners recommend up to 2000 mg of vitamin C daily.
• Vitamin E - another important antioxidant to help prevent the cause of the disease.
• Calcium - calcium is the most important factor when slowing the progression of osteoporosis. You should take supplements of 800 mg to 1500 mg daily, with a good level of vitamin D to help absorption.
• Glucosamine sulfate - Inherently important in cartilage synthesis, glucosamine should be supplemented at levels of 1500-2000 mg per day to help rebuild cartilage and prevent pain.