A possible role of antioxidant vitamins in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Abstract EN

Serum levels of vitamins A, E and C were measured in 20 patients with RA, 20 patients with OA and 20 healthy subjects as a control group.

The patients were classified into subgroups, those with RA according to disease activity and patients with RA and OA according to disease severity.

Our data revealed a highly significant lower serum level of vitamin C in patients with RA and OA than normal controls.

Moreover, serum vitamin C concentrations negatively correlated with both disease activity and severity among patients with RA and with disease severity in patients with OA.

Vitamin E level was found to be low in patients with RA and OA than controls and the difference was also highly significant.

The level correlated negatively with OA disease severity.

Vitamin A level was low in patients with RA but normal in patients with OA.

There was a non-significant correlation with disease activity in patients with RA or disease severity in patients with RA or OA.