IMPACT OF BLUEBERRIES AND POMEGRANATES ON RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disorder, has become one of the most prominent healthcare challenges that people face in this world today. Symptoms of this disease include inflammation, redness, pain, and fever. Left untreated, RA can cause long-term irreversible damage to joints, severely impacting one's quality of life. There are four main drugs currently on the market. However, some have side effects, and others are immunosuppressants. Thus, looking into more natural methods is preferred for some patients. Pomegranates and blueberries were focused on in this study. Blueberries showed great antioxidant capabilities due to the phenolic compounds that they contained. Additionally, quercetin, which is a common compound found in blueberries, has been shown to decrease the symptoms of RA in clinical studies. Pomegranates contain ellagitannins, which are known to reduce inflammatory markers. In clinical trials, pomegranate extract continues to show protective effects. Although both clinical trials and in vitro studies have been proven to show the benefits of blueberries and pomegranates, not enough research has been done to show that these methods can completely replace the medications on the market. However, blueberries and pomegranates, as well as fruits in general, can greatly benefit one's overall lifestyle and reduce the symptoms of RA.