ng>Objective :
The study is targeted to understand about the role of the antioxidants in Rheumatoid Arthritis and to find out any curative or any beneficial effects which can lead to good prognosis of the disease. The antioxidant used in this study is Lycopene.
Methods :
It is prospective comparative study. About fifty eight subjects were selected for the study. Informed consent was obtained from fifty three subjects. Initial screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria done according to the American College of Rheumatology Criteria. At last only thirty patients completed the trial. These thirty patients included fifteen patients in control group treated with Anti Rheumatoid drugs and placebo, and another fifteen patients in test group treated with both Anti Rheumatoid drugs and Lycopene. The dose of Lycopene is 4 mg / day. The study period was three months with specified parameters.
Results :
The post trial P – values of Disease Activity Score ( DAS 28 ) “ t ” – Test, Simple Disease Activity Index ( SDAI ) “ t ” Test, Malondialdehyde ( MDA ) “ t ” – Test, C Reactive protein ( CRP ) “ t ” – Test and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate ( ESR ) “ t ” – Test are highly significant ( < 0.001 ) and P – value of One way Annova is also highly significant ( < 0.001 ).
The percentage of regression of Disease Activity Score ( DAS 28 ), Simple Disease Activity Index ( SDAI ), Malondialdehyde ( MDA ), C Reactive protein ( CRP ) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate ( ESR ) are 25.9, 34.02, 38.21, 24.91 and 18.54 respectively.
Discussion :
There is strong evidence that Rheumatoid Arthritis is associated with autoimmune disorder and oxidative stress being one of predisposing causes, the trial with Lycopene is instituted in these patients in comparison with a control group. There is considerable improvement in clinical features with regression in baseline parameters.
Author : *Dr. Parvathavarthini, Professor and Head of the Department Department of Pharmacology Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute ( Deemed University ) Porur, Chennai – 116 **Dr. Rajasekar, Consultant Rheumatologist Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute ( Deemed University ) Porur, Chennai – 116 ***Dr. P. Elango, *** Asst. Professor Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute Sri Ramachandra University Porur, Chennai – 116
