Intake of antioxidants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Consumo de antioxidantes em portadores de artrite reumatoide

Abstracts

Objective:

to investigate dietary intake of antioxidants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods:

this is a cross-sectional case series study with 53 women accompanied at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas/UFPE, from January to October 2012. Demographic and anthropometric parameters (weight, height, body mass index, weight change) were collected by means of a form. The assessment of food consumption was conducted using a semi-quantitative food frequency survey, analyzed according to a food composition table. Database construction and statistical analysis were performed using Excel and SPSS version 18.0, using chi-squared test, Anova, and Student’s t-test, at a confidence level of 5%.

Results:

the sample was composed of 53 women with a mean age of 54.51 ± 4.24 years and BMI of 25.97 ± 5.94 kg/m². In the sociodemographic variables, statistically significant differences in origin, occupation, and income were observed. Daily consumption showed significance for vitamins A, C, and zinc. In adults, vitamins A and C were in accordance with recommendations, while in the elderly a low intake of vitamin E and selenium was observed. The relation between vitamin E and origin was significant.

Conclusion:

the sample was composed of 53 women with a mean age of 54.51 ± 4.24 years and BMI of 25.97 ± 5.94 kg/m². In the sociodemographic variables, statistically significant differences in origin, occupation, and income were observed. Daily consumption showed significance for vitamins A, C, and zinc. In adults, vitamins A and C were in accordance with recommendations, while in the elderly a low intake of vitamin E and selenium was observed. The relation between vitamin E and origin was significant.

arthritis; reumatoid; antioxidants; micronutrients

Objectivo:

investigar o consumo alimentar de antioxidantes em pacientes portadores de artrite reumatoide.

Métodos:

estudo transversal do tipo série de casos com 53 mulheres acompanhadas no Ambulatório de Reumatologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (HC-UFPE), de janeiro a outubro de 2012. Por meio de formulário, foram coletados parâmetros sociodemográficos e antropométricos (peso, estatura, índice de massa corpórea [IMC], alteração ponderal). A avaliação do consumo alimentar foi realizada por questionário de frequência alimentar semiquantitativo, analisado por tabela de composição de alimentos. A construção do banco de dados e a análise estatística foram realizadas por Excel e SPSS versão 18.0, com aplicação de testes Qui-quadrado, Anova e t-Student, com nível de confiança de 5%.

Resultados:

demonstrou-se que os pacientes apresentaram baixo consumo de vitaminas A, C e zinco. Portanto, ressalta-se a importância de maior consumo de alimentos fontes em antioxidantes, a fim de contribuir para a prevenção da lesão articular e a perda da função reumática, melhorando a qualidade de vida do paciente.

Conclusão:

demonstrou-se que os pacientes apresentaram baixo consumo de vitaminas A, C e zinco. Portanto, ressalta-se a importância de maior consumo de alimentos fontes em antioxidantes, a fim de contribuir para a prevenção da lesão articular e a perda da função reumática, melhorando a qualidade de vida do paciente.

artrite reumatoide; antioxidantes; consumo alimentar

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the synovial membrane of peripheral joints. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5 to 1% of the population, predominantly in women, with a greater incidence in the age group of 30-50 years.¹In Brazil, a multicenter study verified the prevalence of adult RA as ranging from 0.2 to 1%.²

It is characterized by local and systemic inflammation with high plasma concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and acute phase proteins, characterizing a condition of oxidative stress. The disease could be related to genetic susceptibility, manifesting itself in response to an environmental stimulus. However, the exact cause or causes of the disease are unknown.³

The term oxidative stress is defined as a pro-oxidant disorder leading to cellular damage. Various cells can tolerate mild oxidative stress, as they have the ability of antioxidant defense and a repair system, which recognize and remove molecules damaged by oxidation⁴ including antioxidant enzymes, which constitute the first defense for neutralization of endogenous reactive oxygen species (EROS) as well as antioxidant nutrients.

Antioxidant nutrients are substances that at low concentrations delay or minimize the oxidation of oxidizable substrates.⁵ Among non-enzymatic antioxidants responsible for lower molecular and cellular oxidative stress, vitamin A, C and E, zinc and selenium deserve special attention. ⁶

Progress in clinical research has demonstrated an association between antioxidant nutrients intake and lower formation of free radicals, as well as aspects related to the pathogenesis of the disease,⁷ showing that these antioxidants effectively suppress the release of inflammatory cytokines, reducing EROS⁸ and presenting a protective effect on the development of RA.⁹

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake of antioxidant micronutrients, associating this with sociodemographic variables, nutritional status, age range and weight change after use of antirheumatic drugs.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional case series study lasting for 10 months (2012), in which 53 women with RA were assessed at the Rheumatology Outpatient Service of Hospital das Clínicas, Federal University of Pernambuco (HC/UFPE), Recife/state of Pernambuco. Patients aged ≥ 20 years from urban and rural areas of Pernambuco were included.

Patients who did not know their precise feed consumption were excluded, as well as amputees, pregnant women, nursing mothers and those in advanced stages of the disease.

Sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters (age, gender, origin, marital status, occupation, family income, education level) were evaluated, as well as measurements of weight (kg), height (m) and Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m²), classified according to the World Health Organization (2002)¹⁰ for adults, and Lipschitz¹¹ for seniors.

Furthermore, patients were classified according to the presence of weight changes.¹² They first reported their usual weight before the rheumatic disease, in order to observe weight gains, maintenance or loss related to current weight, with or without the use of antirheumatic drugs.

Food consumption was assessed at a daily frequency using a dietary frequency semi-quantitative questionnaire (QFASQ), adapted by Rohenkohl,¹³ structured into five distinct groups of micronutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, Zinc and Selenium. This was done using Brazilian food sources with reasonable amounts of these micronutrients and frequently consumed by the Brazilian population, and based on the food composition table by Philippi.¹⁴ An illustrative album with usual cooking measures was used for appropriate portioning and the table of food composition by Philippi¹⁴ was used to analyze the frequency of food consumption.

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee for research involving human subjects at the Health Sciences Center/UFPE under number 0510.0.172.000-11.

Statistical analysis

The construction of the database and the statistical analysis were performed using Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), respectively.

The continuous variables were tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, when necessary. Variables with normal distribution were described in the form of means and their respective standard deviations.

While verifying the occurrence of statistical associations, chi-squared, Anova and Student’s t-test were used to compare means, presenting their respective p-value for determination of statistical significance. The prevalence ratio was used as a measure of effect, considering food intake of the main antioxidants in patients as the dependent variable. A confidence level of 5% was adopted for rejection of the null hypothesis.

Results

The study consisted of 53 women with a mean age of 54.51 ± 4.24 years (70% adults and 30% seniors), with a mean BMI of 25.97 ± 5.94 kg/m². There was no association between weight change and the use of antirheumatic drugs.

Table 1 presents sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the sample. Being from urban areas, employed and with an income of 1-3 minimum wages were significant characteristics in the group. It is noteworthy that no differences were detected in other parameters, although there was a trend toward a greater number of literate and overweight individuals.

TABLE 1
Association of sociodemographic, anthropometric and clinical characteristics of the sample (n = 53)

Variables	N (%)	Mean	Standard deviation	p Value
Origin
Urban area	29 (54.7%)	57.55	11.76	0.040*
Rural area	24 (45.3%)	50.83	11.27
Marital status
Single/widowed/divorced	28 (52.8%)	56.50	12.56	0.201
Married/common-law partner	25 (47.2%)	52.28	10.98
Occupation
Employed	41 (77.4%)	56.68	10.94	0.013*
Unemployed	12 (22.6%)	47.08	12.59
Income
No income	6 (11.3%)	48.00	13.71
<1 minimum salary	8 (15.1%)	46.38	12.43	0.021**
1-3 minimum salaries	39 (73.6%)	57.18	10.64
Education
Illiterate	5 (9.4%)	55.40	4.56	0.863
Literate	48 (90.6%)	54.42	12.46
Nutritional status
Low weight	4 (7.7%)	56.75	14.84
Normal weight	18 (34.6%)	52.56	13.12	0.856
Overweight	19 (36.5%)	55.58	12.69
Obese	11 (21.2%)	55.27	8.81
Antirheumatic drugs
One drug	27 (50.9%)	51.93	9.57	0.108
Two or more drugs	26 (49.1%)	57.19	13.62

• ^*
  T-test;
• ^**
  ANOVA.

In relation to daily consumption of antioxidant micronutrients between age groups (Table 2), we observed a significantly higher intake in of vitamin A, C and zinc in seniors. Adequacy of consumption using the DRIs was greater than 100% for vitamin A and C in adults, with inadequate intake of vitamin E and selenium in seniors.

TABLE 2
Adequacy of dietary intake of antioxidants and comparison between age groups (n=53)

Nutrients	Average intake	Reference value (DRIs)	Adults	Adequacy %	Elderly	Adequacy %	p Value
Vitamin A (μg)	953.81	700	838.17	119.74	1221.23	174.46	0.037*
Vitamin C (mg)	147.15	75	117.72	156.96	215.19	286.92	0.036*
Vitamin E (mg)	8.51	15	8.83	58.87	7.77	51.80	0.505
Selenium (μg)	24.48	55	22.09	40.16	30.01	54.56	0.283
Zinc (mg)	5.77	8	4.73	59.12	8.17	102.12	0.038*

• ^*
  Student's t-test; Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs) 2000: vitamins E, C, selenium and 2001: vitamin A, zinc.

Table 3 shows the comparison between sociodemographic factors and inadequate intake of micronutrients (vitamin E, selenium and zinc).

TABLE 3
Relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and food consumption (n=53)

Variables		Vitamin E			Selenium			Zinc
	Mean	Standard deviation	p Value	Mean	Standard deviation	p Value	Mean	Standard deviation	p Value
Origin
Urban	6.97	4.46	0.017*	28.31	25.84	0.213*	6.24	5.17	0.507*
Rural	10.38	5.64		19.86	22.23		5.20	6.11
Marital status
Single/widowed/divorced	9.33	4.79	0.234*	29.65	26.34	0.103*	6.96	5.96	0.102*
Married/common-law partner	7.60	5.71		18.69	21.09		4.44	4.91
Occupation
Employed	8.43	5.23	0.843*	27.07	25.67	0.155*	6.51	5.55	0.076*
Unemployed	8.78	5.62		15.64	17.64		3.26	5.16
Income
No income	7.99	6.86		19.52	18.21		4.47	6.61
<1 minimum salary	8.52	4.60	0.968**	12.08	15.79	0.223**	2.49	3.53	0.132**
1-3 minimum salaries	8.59	5.27		27.79	26.05		6.64	5.59
Education
Illiterate	10.76	6.13	0.320*	18.19	26.83	0.550*	4.16	5.82	0.503*
Literate	8.23	5.18		25.14	24.36		5.94	5.59

• ^*
  T-test;
• ^**
  Anova

Discussion

A mean of 54.51 ± 4.24 years was observed in this study, with a predominance of women, confirming the findings of most authors ^13,15 who assessed the intake of antioxidants.

In relation to BMI, our results are in agreement with Avelar, Melo and Souza¹⁶ in a study of a group similar to this one, where a BMI of 26.39 ± 3.80 kg/m² was found. On the other hand, Fernandes et al.¹⁷ found a higher percentage of obesity in their sample, where 68.3% had some degree of obesity.

The data in the literature is scarce when relating the intake of antioxidants and/or rheumatic diseases with patient origin and per capita income. According to some authors,^18,19 r heumatic patients are a group with prevalent inactivity (around 30%), which is also seen in this study. Corbacho and Dapueto,²⁰ with an equal number of individuals and pathology as this study, observed similar results in terms of education, although different in relation to antirheumatic drug therapy, with only 24.5% using combined treatment.

Evidence suggests a high intake of vitamin C and low of vitamin E when assessing the dietary intake of women with RA,¹⁵ a result similar to this group. Edmonds et al.²¹ have shown that vitamin E supplementation (600 mg/day) improves the clinical symptoms of the disease, through a possible mechanism of reduced formation of prostaglandins, molecules produced during inflammatory processes.

When evaluating selenium intake, Salvador et al.¹⁵ detected that 90% of the sample had a higher consumption than the recommendations, a fact confirmed by Hagfors et al.²² and not verified by this study, which found inadequacy greater than 40% of the DRIs. Current data confirms the importance of selenium in RA, since deficiency is associated with increased incidence of the disease.²³

Regarding the consumption of vitamin A, Bae et al.²⁴ observed that daily intake was significantly lower in RA patients than in the control group, which was not de monstrated by this study.

The current literature is sparse in relation to the association between antioxidant intake and nutritional status in rheumatic diseases. In healthy obese individuals, Marreiro et al. ²⁵ found a reduction in plasma concentra tions of zinc, demonstrating that supplementation reduces insulin resistance. These findings demonstrate the in fluence of this antioxidant on changes in nutritional status, which was observed in our results.

Few studies have compared the intake of micronutrients and sociodemographic factors. A study ²⁶ conducted in Brazil suggests that vitamin E intake is inadequate, regardless of gender, age, race, income, social class and nutritional status, corroborating the results of this group. On the other side, 13.4% inadequate intake of selenium was also shown, contrary to the results in this study (55%). In relation to zinc, 52.1% inadequacy was found the entire sample, similar to this study on adults (40%). Howe ver, in this Brazilian case series, micronutrient intakes were not associated with sociodemographic factors.

In relation to the use of the RA medication, anti-in flammatory and immunomodulatory drugs are important in the treatment of patients with RA, although this may occasionally be a cause of troubling metabolic effects (obesity, glucose intolerance, weight and appetite changes).²⁷ However, the patient may occasionally present persistent anorexia, decreased absorption and/or abnormal utilization of nutrients, promoting hypercatabolism, malnutrition and changes in the bodily composition,²⁸ confirming the findings of this study, which detected a greater tendency to weight loss in the group as a whole and within the different age ranges.

Conclusion

This research has shown that patients with RA had a low consumption of antioxidant micronutrients: vitamins A, C and zinc. Therefore, we can emphasize the importance of dietary guidance based on major sources of antioxidant micronutrients, especially fruits, raw vegetables, fish and oilseeds in order to contribute to the prevention of joint damage and loss of rheumatic function.

• Study conducted at the Hospital das Clínicas, Federal University of Recife, PE

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Nov-Dec 2014

History

• Received
  02 May 2014
• Accepted
  29 May 2014