The question: Might Vitamin C help prevent gout, a common and painful form of arthritis?
This study: It analyzed data on 46,994 men older than 40 who had never had gout when the study began. Over the next 20 years, gout was diagnosed in 1,317 of the men. Those who reported taking in the most Vitamin C through food and supplements -- equal to 1,500 milligrams or more a day -- were 45 percent less likely to have developed gout than were men with the lowest Vitamin C intake, 250 mg or less a day.
Who may be affected? Middle-age and older men, who are the most likely to develop gout, caused by excessive uric acid in the blood. Characterized by sudden and intense pain and swelling in joints, gout often starts in the big toe but also can affect other parts of the feet, knees, hands and elbows.
Find this study: March 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Learn more: www.niams.nih.gov and www.familydoctor.org.
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