Eating fruits and vegetables may cut arthritis risk

A new study has shown that Drinking a glass of orange juice a day may help stave off arthritis. Certain carotenoids, compounds commonly found in some fruits and vegetables, appear to be responsible.

The findings from previous studies have suggested that dietary carotenoids, the chemicals responsible for the orange and yellow coloring of fruits and vegetables, can reduce inflammation through antioxidant effects.

Dr. Alan J. Silman, from The University of Manchester in the UK, and colleagues analyzed data from a study of more than 25,000 subjects to investigate the association between dietary carotenoids and arthritis risk. 

Between 1993 and 2001, the subjects were followed to assess the occurrence of arthritis affecting multiple joints.

The researchers’ findings appear in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Eighty-eight subjects developed arthritis during follow-up and they were matched to 176 healthy comparison subjects.

Average daily intakes of the carotenoids beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin were 40 and 20 percent lower, respectively, for arthritis patients compared with healthy subjects. By contrast, consumption of two other well-known carotenoids, lutein and lycopene, did not seem to protect against arthritis.

Further analysis showed that subjects with the highest beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin intake were about half as likely to develop inflammatory polyarthritis than those with the lowest intake.

“These data add to a growing body of evidence that some dietary antioxidants, such as the carotenoids beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin as well as vitamin C, may be protective against the development of” arthritis, the authors conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, August 2005.

RELATED STORIES:
Type of Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication May Increase Risk for Shingles   Nearly 1 in 4 people with psoriasis may have undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis   Most People With Arthritis Don’t Get Enough Exercise   Scientists ‘switch off’ arthritis   Rheumatoid arthritis raises heart death risk   Regular Tipple May Curb Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis   Obesity takes heavy toll on knee arthritis   One fifth of Americans have arthritis, survey shows   Combining Medications Often Best Strategy to Battle Rheumatoid Arthritis   Celebrex May Be Best Therapy for Osteoarthritis   New Treatment for Chronic Arthritis-Related Back Pain   Exercise may neither help nor harm older knees

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]

What health info have you recently searched for online? Disease or condition Exercise or fitness Diet, nutrition or vitamins None of the above

Analysing the causes of obesity in the Romani ethnic group
    - Full Story - - »»»

Best time for a coffee break? There’s an app for that
    - Full Story - - »»»

Cellphone Use Linked to Selfish Behavior in UMD Study
    - Full Story - - »»»

Optimism about heart risks may be a good thing
    - Full Story - - »»»

New guidelines developed for improved DVT diagnosis
    - Full Story - - »»»

Teen pregnancy, abortion rates at record low, study says
    - Full Story - - »»»

Think you can’t get pregnant? Try again, study says
    - Full Story - - »»»