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One glass of orange juice
a day could be enough |
Eating a diet rich in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables could
help reduce the risk of developing inflammatory disorders, according to a new
study.
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.
