Brightly-coloured fruit and veg may protect against arthritis (17 August, 2005)

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Brightly-coloured fruit and veg may protect against arthritis (17

August, 2005)

Researchers from The University of Manchester's Medical School have

discovered that eating more brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables

like oranges, carrots and sweetcorn may help reduce the risk of

developing inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

(I-Newswire) - Rheumatoid arthritis currently affects around 1% adults

in the UK.  Previous studies have suggested that vitamin C and the

pigment beta-cryptoxanthin, both of which are found in

brightly-coloured fruit and veg, may act as antioxidants, and protect

the body against the oxidative damage which can cause inflammation.

The Manchester team, based in the Arthritis Research Campaign's

Epidemiology Unit, worked with researchers from the Institute of Public

Health at the University of Cambridge to analyse health questionnaires

and diet diaries by over 25000 45-74 year-olds; completed as part of

the EPIC ( European Prospective Investigation of Cancer ) Norfolk study

of diet and chronic disease in the 1990s.  They then followed-up the

participants over a nine year period to identify new cases of

inflammatory polyarthritis ( IP ), including rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr Dorothy Pattison, who led the research, said: " We found that the

average daily beta-cryptoxanthin intake of the 88 patients who had

developed inflammatory polyarthritis was 40% lower than those who

hadn't, and their intake of another carotenoid, zeaxanthin, was 20%

lower.

" Those in the top third for beta-cryptoxanthin intake were only half as

likely to develop IP as those in the lowest third, and vitamin C was

also found to be an important factor. "

The findings appear to confirm previous evidence that a modest increase

in fruit and vegetables containing beta-cryptoxanthin and vitamin C,

equivalent to one glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice each day,

might help to protect against developing inflammatory joint diseases.

Dr Pattison has previously published research which found that both low

intakes of fruit and vegetables ( in particular those high in vitamin C

), and high levels of red meat consumption were associated with an

increased risk of developing IP.