Effects of Antioxidant Supplements Intervention on the Level of Plasma Inflammatory Molecules and Disease Severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Objective: Excess generation of reactive oxygen species in damaged joints accelerates inflammatory responses in RA (rheumatoid arthritis) patients. The complementary effects of dietary antioxidant supplementation on the blood level of inflammatory mediators and the severity of the disease in RA patients were evaluated.Study Design and Settings: The study was conducted as a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-treatment cross-over design trial. The participants visited the hospital as outpatients.Subjects: Twenty patients meeting the 1987 criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis completed the study.Interventions: The subjects were randomized in three groups to receive one of following supplementation; quercetin+vitamin C (166mg+133mg/capsule), α-lipoic acid (300mg/capsule) or placebo for 4 weeks (3 capsules/day). Each treatment period consisted of 4 weeks with 2 weeks of wash-out period before the subject starts next supplementation.Outcome Parameters: Serum levels of tumor ne...