Antioxidants and Rheumatoid Arthritis
By Steven Bratman, M.D.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in the general family of lupus. For reasons that are not understood, in rheumatoid arthritis the immune system goes awry and begins attacking innocent tissues, especially cartilage in the joints. Various joints become red, hot, and swollen under the onslaught. The pattern of inflammation is usually symmetrical, occurring on both sides of the body. Other symptoms include inflammation of the eyes, nodules or lumps under the skin, and a general feeling of malaise.

Free radicals are thought to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis. These naturally occurring chemicals can cause damage to many parts of body, including the joints. Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals. Some of the most famous antioxidants are vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. The mineral selenium, while not an antioxidant in its own right, helps the body manufacture the potent antioxidant glutathione.

A recent study found that the addition of an antioxidant mixture or vitamin E alone to a standard treatment regimen for rheumatoid arthritis improves symptoms.1 This controlled, but apparently not blinded, trial compared standard treatment alone against both standard treatment plus vitamin E and standard treatment plus a mixture of antioxidants.

The results showed that participants in the vitamin E and antioxidant mixture groups experienced more rapid and marked improvement in pain, stiffness, and laboratory measurements of disease severity.

While this was a promising study, the lack of placebo treatment and double-blind design makes the results less than fully reliable. Larger and better-designed trials will be necessary to establish whether or not antioxidants are actually helpful for rheumatoid arthritis.

1. Helmy M, Shohayeb M, Helmy MH, et al. Antioxidants as adjuvant therapy in rheumatoid disease. Arzneimittelforschung. 2001;51:293-298.