Vitamin E Doesn’t Decrease a Woman's Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

There had been a belief among some people in the medical community and those who promote homeopathic remedies that vitamin E supplements may prevent women from developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, Dr. Elizabeth W. Karlson and researchers for the Women's Health Study analyzed the effects added vitamin E and showed this not to be the case. In spite of credible biologic mechanisms, controlled trials revealed that regular, long-term ingestion of vitamin E through supplements does not reduce a woman's chance of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects approximately twenty million people globally. It is an autoimmune disease which is characterized by the body's failure to recognize its own healthy tissues and instead attacking them as if they were a foreign substance. RA can bring about pain and inflammation of the organs and cause pain, swelling and stiffness in their joints. Over time, RA can also increase the risks of cardiac and lung disease and may cause irreversible damage to bones and cartilage. Other complications from this chronic condition include dry-eye and irregular salivary gland production.

Previous studies reported in the journal Arthritis Care and Research, which were "observational" in nature, showed that adding antioxidants to the diet could cut the risks of rheumatoid arthritis. Some people even believed vitamin E could be used as a treatment for arthritis. During the Women's Health study, every other day almost 40,000 women of forty-five years of age older were randomly given 600 international units of vitamin E through supplements or a placebo. Dr. Elizabeth W. Karlson and researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston followed-up on the study which lasted an average of ten years. Their findings show that fifty women who belonged to the group which received vitamin E and fifty-six women who were part of the placebo group developed RA. This research suggests that taking vitamin E supplements does not have any significant effects on the likelihood of women getting rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Taking large amounts of vitamin E should also not be considered a natural treatment option. Women and men, who do have this disease, should consult with their doctor and rheumatologist to discuss their treatment options. Often arthritis drug treatments include medication which can be grouped by: corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), and anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Arthritis medication can be purchased through an online pharmacy and shipped to RA patients all over the world. For the latest information about RA and osteoarthritis, visit www.arthritis.org.