High vitamin C intake might protect against rheumatoid arthritis
VITAMIN EASES PAIN
10:30 - 09 June 2004
Source: The Citizen
A High vitamin C intake might protect against the development of painful rheumatoid arthritis. Research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed people with inflammatory polyarthritis tended to have a lower daily intake of fruit and vegetables than those who did not develop the disease.
People with a low intake of fruit and vegetables had around double the risk of developing arthritis of those with a high intake.
But vitamin C itself seemed to have an even more important role. Those with the lowest levels of vitamin C intake were three times more likely to develop inflammatory arthritis than those with the highest intakes, the results showed.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin C is 40mg.
Those with levels below this were at four times the risk of inflammatory polyarthritis. Those at less than 56mg a day were still at three times the risk.