Nicotine May Slow Joint Destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Nicotine from heavy cigarette smoking appears to slow joint destruction associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Smoking is recognized as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis but it has been unclear to researchers how smoking affects progressive joint destruction and disability caused by the disease. To make that determination, Swiss researchers analyzed joint x-rays and results from questionnaires related to self-reported functional disability for more than 2,000 rheumatoid arthritis patients. The patients were middle age, in their fifties. Of the study participants:

• 1,459 patients did not smoke
• 489 were moderate smokers
• 55 were heavy smokers (i.e., smoked more than one pack each day)

According to study results published in the August 2007 Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, researchers concluded that joint damage observed on x-rays progressed at a similar rate in smokers and non-smokers. There was reduced x-ray progression and better functional scores among heavy smokers.

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The potential anti-inflammatory effect linked to nicotine should not prompt you to light up though! Researchers still say the bad health risks associated with nicotine and smoking outweigh any potential benefit for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

More Related Resources:

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• Smoking Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis: More Evidence
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_{Photo by Joseph Jean Rolland Dube (iStockphoto)}