PROVISION OF VITAMINS AND CALCIUM IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: ESTIMATION OF INTAKE AND PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS

Objective: to study the actual intake of vitamins and calcium and their provision in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Middle Urals. Subjects and methods. The case-control method was used to form 150 pairs of RA patients aged 55.31±11.3 years. Their actual nutrition was studied from the frequency of food intake for a month, by applying a questionnaire. Based on the obtained food consumption data, the authors calculated the daily intake of vitamins A, B 2 , C, E, β -carotene, and calcium. The plasma levels of these factors were measured in 40% of the random patient sample and in 68 (45%) control persons. A complete clinical examination included the evaluation of patients' general health and articular status, inflammatory activity assessment with DAS28, laboratory tests (general blood and urine analyses, estimation of the levels of transaminases, creatinine, electrolytes, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor), and instrumental examination, involving electrocardiography and joint X-ray. Results and discussion. The study demonstrated that actual nutrition was depleted of vitamins A, C, and B 2 in the patients with RA as compared to the controls. Inadequate provision of vitamin C, β -carotene, riboflavin, and calcium was found in RA. The inconsistency between the consumption of vitamins C, B 2 , and β -carotene and their plasma levels could suggest increased demands for these nutrients in RA. The findings should undergo detailed studies; first of all, this concerns the comparison of intake of the nutrients and their provision with the most important clinical characteristics of RA, such as duration, progression, activity, X-ray stage, and the presence of rheumatoid factor. The knowledge of these matters could, in our opinion, improve the results of therapy and prognosis in RA.