‘Rotten eggs’ gas may protect against joint inflammation
August 21st, 2010 - 1:13 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Aug 21 (ANI): Hydrogen sulphide is a gas mostly associated with the smell of rotten eggs, but it is also found in fluid form in the body, and may protect against inflammation.
H2S reside in knee joint synovial fluid - the protective fluid found in the cavities of joints that reduces friction between the cartilages of joints during movement.
Peninsula Medical School researchers and rheumatologists at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust in Exeter compared H2S in blood samples and knee-joint synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and healthy individuals.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were found to have higher concentrations of H2S in their synovial fluid.
Higher H2S levels were associated with disease activity and lowered counts of inflammatory cells suggesting H2S may be a novel mediator made by the body to control inflammation.
As a result, H2S could be used as a therapeutic and possibly ‘natural’ option for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
Dr. Matt Whiteman said, “Since H2S is naturally produced in our bodies by enzymes, it may be possible to manipulate the activity of these enzymes to increase their activity, possibly by dietary means, to boost the body’s ability to deal with inflammation and tissue damage. ”
The study is published in the current issue of the prestigious Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. (ANI)
- A shot in six months can keep knee surgery at bay - Jun 03, 2011
- Age no bar as arthritis strikes India's young (Oct 12 is World Arthritis Day) - Oct 12, 2010
- Discovery opens way to better arthritis treatment - May 02, 2012
- Obesity epidemic behind rheumatoid arthritis - Apr 26, 2012
- New classification criteria of rheumatoid arthritis to allow early diagnosis - Aug 11, 2010
- Drinking reduces arthritis risk - Jul 29, 2010
- Regular statin use 'cuts rheumatoid arthritis risk' - Sep 08, 2010
- Osteoarthritis supplements have no impact on symptoms - Sep 17, 2010
- Positive outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis linked to early diagnosis - Nov 24, 2010
- Indians beware - smoking can cause arthritis (Oct 12 is World Arthritis Day) - Oct 12, 2011
- Study clears misconception linked to joint pain from breast cancer drugs - Nov 08, 2010
- 'Master switch' that triggers arthritis identified - Jan 17, 2011
- Soon, simple blood test to detect rheumatoid arthritis - Jan 29, 2010
- Garlic can reduce risk of arthritis - Dec 19, 2010
- Widely used arthritis pill shows promise against skin cancer - Dec 03, 2010
Tags: annals of the new york academy of sciences, cartilages, chronic inflammatory diseases, h2s, hydrogen sulphide, inflammatory cells, joint inflammation, knee joint synovial fluid, medical school researchers, natural option, new york academy, new york academy of sciences, nhs trust, patients with rheumatoid arthritis, peninsula medical school, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatologists, rotten eggs, royal devon, whiteman