Can Caffeine Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain?

Your body is filled with joints, which is the area where two opposing bones meet. The main responsibility of joints is to support flexibility within your skeleton. While there are many different types of joints, the type of foods and compounds you consume can directly affect the functionality and health of your body’s joints.

Caffeine is one of the most commonly consumed stimulants, and it may be found in a wide variety of dietary sources ranging from soda to chocolate. According to preliminary studies, caffeine may actually help prevent or delay RA, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Caffeine and Rheumatoid Arthritis:

According to a study published in the “Arthritis and Rheumatism” journal, researchers found that those who consumed four cups of decaffeinated coffee per day showcased a significant risk increase of developing RA. However, those who drank a minimum of three cups of standard, or caffeinated, tea per day had a substantial decrease in potentially developing rheumatoid arthritis.

This information suggests that consuming caffeine may actually help delay or stop the development of RA. Another study published in the “Arthritis and Rheumatism” journal found no solid scientific evidence connecting RA development with caffeine consumption.

Because these two studies are conflicting, further investigation is required to determine if caffeine plays a direct or indirect role in rheumatoid arthritis development.

Dosage:

Because caffeine is a stimulant, not everyone can safely consume this substance. It is vital that you closely monitor your daily caffeine intake to help prevent adverse side effects.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you may consume between 200 and 300 mg of caffeine, which is the amount of caffeine found in two to four cups of coffee.

By increasing your caffeine consumption by 200 mg, to 500 mg, you greatly increase your risk of developing an upset stomach, insomnia, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, muscle tremors and irritability.

Make sure that you talk with your doctor regarding the safety and suggested dosage of caffeine. This is especially important if you are currently taking medications to treat arthritis pain or are extremely sensitive to stimulants.

References Used:

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001243.htm

University of Maryland Medical Center: Arthritis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11817612

“Arthritis and Rheumatism”: Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine Consumption and Risk of RA

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.11306/full

“Arthritis and Rheumatism”: Coffee Consumption and Risk of RA

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090330200831.htm

ScienceDaily: Caffeine Reduces Pain During Exercise


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