Emerging Role of Selenium in Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Insight on its Antioxidant Properties

Abstract Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory disease primarily involves the inflamed synovium, affecting about 0.5-1% population worldwide. It is the assumption from many years that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of inflammatory disorders like RA and many others. The significance of micronutrients in arthritis is linked to their role as a cofactor for the activation of selenoenzymes. Dietary interventions can manage the clinical symptoms of RA like pain, swelling and tenderness of joints and their associated disability along the progression of disease. This review highlights the antioxidant potential of selenium in treatment of RA along with the scientific evidence that Se supplementation can reduce disease progression by managing its clinical symptoms.