ASSESSMENT OF ANTIOXIDANT NUTRIENT INTAKE AND MALONDIADEHYDE PLASMA LEVEL IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background: elevated free radical generation in inflamed joints and impaired antioxidantsystems have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (ra). the present study was performed toevaluate dietary nutrient intake and plasma oxidant status in ra patients.methods: this case-control study comprised 75 ra patients and equal number of age- andgender-matched controls. nutrient intake was estimated by using a semi-quantitative food frequencyquestionnaire. blood samples were obtained from each group, and as an indicator ofoxidant status, plasma concentrations of malondiadehyde (mda) were measured.results: the mean calorie intake of ra patients was lower than that of the healthy controls.energy-adjusted intake of fat, vitamin a and ß-carotene were significantly lower in patients thanin control .plasma mda concentration was significantly higher in ra patients than incontrols (4.9±1.8 vs 2.1±0.6 nmoles/ml respectively,p < 0.01).conclusion: these results suggest proper antioxidant nutrient intake management may reducefree radical generation and improve antioxidant status in ra patients.