Study: Low Intake of Fruits, Vegetables Increases Inflammatory Arthritis Risk

People who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables, particularly those containing vitamin C, are at greater risk of developing inflammatory arthritis, according to a study conducted jointly by the University of Manchester and University of Cambridge.

The group used dietary information from about 25,000 people who participated in an ongoing study of diet and chronic diseases between 1993 and 1997. Over an eight-year period, 73 cases of inflammatory arthritis were reported.

The researchers found that lower intakes of fruit, vegetables, fructose and dietary vitamin C were associated with a greater risk of developing inflammatory arthritis.

"It seems there is a particularly strong link between the risk of developing some forms of arthritis and a low intake of Vitamin C," said David Scott, president of the British Society for Rheumatology. "We feel these findings may have important implications for the role of diet in reducing the risk of inflammatory arthritis."

Dr Madeleine Devey, Arthritis Research Campaign scientific officer, said prior studies have already established that smoking and blood transfusions are two significant risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis.

"These latest findings suggesting that low doses of Vitamin C could also be a risk factor are clearly worthy of further study," Devey added.

Other sources: Arthritis Research Campaign