Researchers from the University of Manchester found antioxidant compounds in orange and yellow fruits can help combat diseases such as arthritis.

The findings show drinking just one glass of freshly squeezed orange juice each day could have positive effects.

The juice boosts levels of vitamin C and the antioxidant beta-cryptoxanthin.

These compounds can protect against developing inflammatory joint diseases, the study found.

Rheumatoid arthritis currently affects around 1% of adults in the UK.

Arthritis risk

Researchers from The University of Manchester worked with colleagues from the Institute of Public Health at the University of Cambridge.

They analysed data from a study of more than 25,000 subjects to investigate the association between dietary carotenoids - pigments found in the foods - and arthritis risk.

Between 1993 and 2001, the subjects were followed to assess the occurrence of arthritis affecting multiple joints.

Researchers found patients who had developed inflammatory diseases had a 40% lower average intake of these compounds than those who had not developed similar diseases.

"Vitamin C was also found to be an important factor," Dr Dorothy Pattison, who led the research, said.

The researchers' findings have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.