Antioxidants 'do not protect against rheumatoid arthritis or lupus'

Published on 02 Jul 2010

New research suggests that a high intake of antioxidants is unlikely to protect against rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus).

Previously, some scientists had claimed that antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E may help to prevent the development of these autoimmune diseases by combating oxidative stress and controlling inflammation.

Researchers at the rheumatology division of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston set out to investigate the issue by looking for cases of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus among 184,643 US women and studying their antioxidant intake.

All of the women had taken part in the Nurses Health Study between 1980 and 2004.

During the 24-year study period, a total of 787 women developed rheumatoid arthritis and 192 were diagnosed with lupus.

All of the participants had provided details about their dietary habits prior to being diagnosed.

This included information on their intake of vitamins A, C and E, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin, both in dietary and supplement form.

Publishing their findings in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the study authors revealed: "In these large, prospective cohorts of women, antioxidant intake was not associated with the risk of developing either rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus."

An earlier study by Arthritis Research UK revealed that eating large amounts of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables reduced the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.