A study found higher intakes of Vitamin C may reduce the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, Gout, by up to 45% in men.
Vitamin C intake from data obtained from almost 47,000 men obtained from a dietary questionnaire taken over a four year period between 1986 and 2006 was evaluated for this study. During a 20 year follow up more than 1300 cases of Gout were documented.
Comparing men who had a Vitamin C intake of below 250 mg/daily with men whose Vitamin C intake was between 500 mg and 999 mg daily the risk of having Gout decreased by 17%. Men with a Vitamin C intake between 1000 mg and 1,499 mg daily experienced a 34% decreased risk of having Gout when compared to the men intaking below 250 mg of Vitamin C daily. For men who took in over 1,500 g of Vitamin C daily, their risk of suffering from Gout decreased by 45% when compared with the men supplementing below 250 mg/day of Vitamin C.
Researchers concluded that for every 500 mg increase in Vitamin C intake daily, a man’s risk of Gout was reduced by 17%.
Gout is a disease in which a defective metabolism of uric acid causes arthritis. During an attack of Gout, the body uses uric acid and forms painful urate crystals. According to the US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Gout occurs in approximately 8.4 out of every 1,000 people. Gout most often occurs in men over the age of 40.
Researchers believe Vitamin C may reduce levels of uric acid in the blood which then prevents the formation of the urate crystals. Vitamin C may help the reabsorption of uric acid by the kidneys which increases the speed at which the kidneys work to protect against inflammation. This then reduces the risk of having an attack of Gout.
More studies are planned.
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