Can Brazil Nuts and Tuna Fight Arthritis?
Scientists have long suspected that osteoarthritis, a painful condition of the joints, occurs more often in people who don’t get all the nutrients they need. Now researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill have found a possible link between selenium–a mineral found in foods from brazil nuts to noodles to tuna–and osteoarthritis of the knee. After adjusting for other factors such as age and body mass, they found that each increase of 0.1 parts per million of selenium in the toenail clippings of people studied correlated with a 15 to 20 percent lower risk of knee osteoarthritis. One theory: The nutrient aids in the formation of proteins that keep cartilage healthy. It’s also possible that low selenium levels indicate a general lack of nutrition that plays a role. It’s not a good idea to start taking extra selenium, since too much can be toxic, says lead author Joanne Jordan, a UNC associate professor of medicine and orthopedics. Better to watch your diet. This story app