Joint pain caused by inflammation is colloquially known as
arthritis. It can be subdivided into two types: (1) osteoarthritis and (2)
rheumatoid arthritis. The first type, osteoarthritis, is common among older
individuals and is also suffered by most obese people. It is caused by the
degeneration of joints and is usually associated with aging. It is manifested
by stiff and painful joints. The second type, rheumatoid arthritis, affects any
age group. Its cause is idiopathic (unknown). However, health experts found out
that the own immune system of the affected person attacks the joints, which
causes joint swelling and pain.
Moreover, medical researchers have been looking into the
relationship of food allergies and arthritis as well. It has been noticed that
there are certain foods that trigger joint pain attacks such as red meat,
sardines, beans and many more. At first, the high purine content of these foods
is the only considerable factor. Purine
is a food component that increases the uric acid level in the body. Excessive
amount of uric acid will be deposited into the joints as uric acid crystals and
this is believed to cause the pain in gouty arthritis.
In a laboratory trial, the intestinal fluids from subjects
with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those without RA were examined in test tubes.
The researchers compared the amount of IgE on both subjects after eating foods
that usually trigger arthritic pain. Ige is an antibody that elevates in level
as an immune response to the presence of allergens. The result revealed that the
Ige level of those subjects with arthritis is significantly increased compared
to those who do not suffer from the said joint disorder. The researchers concluded that rheumatoid arthritis
also results from an allergic reaction to certain foods.
The increased IgE level in the gut has been considered an
initial immune response. Once the immune system is activated, it will search
every corner of the body for foreign matters like allergens. Unfortunately, the
antibodies get over responsive sometimes that they even attack the own tissues
of the affected individual including the joints. This is a condition known as
autoimmune disorder. This has been pointed out as the source of joint swelling
and pain in rheumatoid arthritis.
On
the other hand, this study remains unresolved for some experts because the
trial was done on test tubes and not on actual subjects. Gut fluid samples were
just taken out from the subjects (extracted using sterile procedure) and
examined in the laboratory. The finding requires actual human trial and further
studies. However, people with arthritis must still be careful with food intake.
Be watchful with those foods that result to arthritic pain after consumption.
Put them on a list and try taking them for two more times in weekly interval.
If the same reaction appears such as swelling and pain on the joints, inform
your doctor for further tests. Mostly, doctors recommend that trigger foods
must be avoided. However, there are common foods associated with arthritis and
these must be rich in purine.
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