Zinc and citrus antioxidant could protect against arthritis
rheumatoid arthritis, according to new findings, although the
researchers cautioned that the results are preliminary.
Zinc and an antioxidant found in citrus fruit may lower the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, according to new findings, although the researchers cautioned that the results are preliminary.
A team of US researchers studied nearly 30,000 women from the Iowa Women's Health Study. They examined data compiled on the women's diets, comparing the diet patterns of those who later developed rheumatoid arthritis with those without the disease. They report that women who consumed less than 40 micrograms of beta-cryptoxanthin were at a slightly higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than women who consumed more than that amount.
Beta-cryptoxanthin is found in citrus fruits such as grapefruits.
They also found that those who took zinc supplements had a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis. However those with similar levels of zinc intake from food did not show a decreased risk.
Greater intake of fruit and vegetables also exhibited trends toward inverse associations with risk, reported the researchers in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Although they acknowledged that there are still no well-defined risk factors for the disease, the research seems to support the overwhelming benefits of a regular intake of fruit and vegetable.
