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Antioxidants don't protect against Lupus, Arthritis

Antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E and the carotenoids in food and supplements might not protect women from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Antioxidants dont protect against Lupus, Arthritis

Antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E and the carotenoids in food and supplements might not protect women from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Both RA and SLE are autoimmune diseases in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own organs and tissues. RA results in chronic inflammation of the small joints of the hand and feet while the inflammation caused by SLE can affect any part of the body including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs.

It is thought that antioxidants may protect against development of rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus by combating oxidative stress. One reason for checking whether antioxidants in the diet would have an effect is that people with RA and lupus have lower antioxidant levels in their blood than healthy individuals. And studies in mice have shown that giving antioxidants helps reduce the type of immune-system-triggered inflammation that's associated with these diseases.

To test the efficacy of antioxidants in reducing the risk of RA and lupus, researchers tracked nearly 184,643 American women for up to 24 years, who were free of RA or lupus at the start of the study. The participants completed detailed questionnaires on their diets and supplement use. The researchers used these questionnaires to estimate the women's daily intakes of vitamins A, C and E, as well as alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin.

During 24 years, 787 women were diagnosed with RA, while 192 were diagnosed with lupus. Women with higher antioxidant intakes did tend to maintain a healthier lifestyle overall. They were generally more physically active and less likely to smoke, for example. When those factors were taken into account, antioxidant consumption itself showed no strong relationship to RA or lupus risk.

Nonetheless, no clear relationship was found between the women's estimated intake of antioxidants - including vitamins A, C and E and beta-carotene - and their likelihood of being diagnosed with RA or lupus. The findings contradict hints from earlier research that women with higher intake of antioxidants might have lower risks of developing these diseases.

This finding does not negate the importance of eating antioxidant-rich foods for one's overall health. Foods high in the antioxidants assessed in this study include citrus fruits, leafy greens like spinach and kale, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, and red or orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, watermelon and sweet potatoes.
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