Antioxidants in Osteoarthritis Pittsburgh PA

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease, affecting nearly 50 percent of the population older than the age of 65 and virtually everyone over the age of 75. OA affects primarily the hardest working joints: the knees, the hips, fingers, neck and the lower back. Osteoarthritis is sometimes known as degenerative joint disease (DJD).

Osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive, degenerative changes in cartilage structure. Proteoglycans are a collection of macromolecules that surround the plasma membrane of a cell. When the proteoglycans break down, they lose their ability to form tight clusters. The water content of cartilage increases. Cartilage loses the ability to repair itself and develops clefts and crevices that eventually extend down to the underlying bone. The end result is weak, stiff, and deformed joints.

A recent study published in the Arthritis Research & Therapy journal examined whether dietary antioxidants have an effect on knee osteoarthritis. The researchers recruited 293 healthy, middle-aged adults without knee pain or injury from an existing community-based cohort. They were asked to complete a food frequency questionnaire to assess antioxidant intake. Approximately 10 years later the researchers measured cartilage volume, bone area, cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions using magnetic resonance imaging. They found that higher intake of vitamin C reduced the risk of bone marrow lesions by 50 percent and also reduced bone area. Fruit intake also reduced bone area and bone marrow lesions by 28 percent. There was a 29 percent reduction in the risk of cartilage defects with the intake of lutein and zeaxanthin. The researchers concluded that increased fruit consumption and antioxidant intake may improve bone health and reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis.¹

¹ Wang Y, Hodge AM, Wluka AD, et al. Effect of antioxidants on knee cartilage and bone in healthy, middle-aged subjects: a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. Jul2007;9(4):R66.