Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major inflammatory joint disease that causes cartilage destruction, bone erosions, and joint destruction. Oxidative stress is elevated in RA patients implying reactive oxygen species (ROS) are possible mediators of tissue damage. ROS trigger a cascade of events through nuclear factors’ activation (NF-kappa B), which up-regulates gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate the immune responses causing inflammation. As ascorbic acid can reduce oxidative stress, decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and suppress the activation of NF-kappa B, we suggest that millimolar concentration of ascorbic acid may be useful in RA treatment. In our study we analyzed the effect of intravenous vitamin C (IVC) treatment on eleven subjects with RA. Our data suggest that IVC therapy with dosages of 7.5 g - 50 g can reduce inflammation. The level of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein levels was decreased on average by 44%. Based on our pilot study, we hypothesize that IVC therapy can be a useful strategy in treating RA.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major inflammatory joint disease involving damage to cartilage, bone and joints
The eleven rheumatoid arthritis patients in our study were characterized by moderate to high levels of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP) accompanying moderate to severe discomfort levels (Table 1)
Chronic inflammation underlies the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major inflammatory joint disease involving damage to cartilage, bone and joints. It can lead to rheumatoid nodules, vasculitis, heart disease, lung disease, anemia, and peripheral neuropathy. Treatment usually beings with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ASAIDs) or COX-2 inhibitors, with glucocorticoids or “disease modifying drugs” such as gold and methotrexate being employed in more severe cases. These treatments have limited success and may cause significant adverse effects. Alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) approaches to arthritis include supplementation with gamma-linolenic acid, fish oil (and/or omega 3 fatty acids), antioxidants (such as vitamins C, E, quercetin, and lipoic acid), and dietary adjustments [1]. Clinical studies testing these CAM therapies have not demonstrated significant benefits to RA patients [2,3,4,5,6,7]
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