If eating fruit every day could reduce your arthritis symptoms, would you do that? The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is seeking volunteers who answer “yes” to that question.
Physician-scientists Matlock Jeffries, M.D., and Hal Scofield, M.D., need 40 people with osteoarthritis and 40 with rheumatoid arthritis between the ages of 45 and 75 to participate in a study testing the effects of blueberries on their disease.
Participants will consume a freeze-dried powder containing the equivalent of one cup of blueberries per day, while others will receive a placebo. After 12 weeks, the two products will be switched for a second 12-week testing period.
“We’ll be asking participants to continue taking their current medications during the study,” Jeffries said. “But what we learn from this research could shape future conversations about arthritis therapy.”
To qualify, participants need a doctor’s diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Those with osteoarthritis also need X-ray evidence of moderate disease in one or both knees.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition and the most common cause of joint replacements. It affects an estimated 32.5 million Americans. According to the World Health Organization, its prevalence more than doubled between 1990 and 2019, largely due to an increase in obesity.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting an estimated 1.5 million Americans. It is often mistaken for osteoarthritis due to shared symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.
This research, funded by the Wild Blueberry Association of North America, also involves scientists at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It seeks to build from an earlier study in which people with knee osteoarthritis showed a significant reduction in pain, stiffness and difficulty performing daily tasks following daily blueberry consumption.
“We’ve long known that berries reduce inflammation and are good for your heart,” said Scofield, who also serves as assistant chief of staff for research at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. “This study promises to expand what we know about the connection between arthritis and our diet.”
Interested in joining the study? Go to omrf.org/blueberry or call (405) 271-7221.
