“My mother has heard that eating grapefruit will worsen her arthritis. We know that grapefruit can affect cholesterol medications, but I have searched the internet and cannot find a connection between grapefruit and arthritis. Is there anything to it?” Syracuse
No, there's not. We called a rheumatologist at University Hospital... He says grapefruit may actually help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. It's believed grapefruit blocks substances that cause inflammation. The fruit is also loaded with vitamin C which prevents inflammation and reduces severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who take the medication cyclosporine are a special case - they should avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice. It can affect the protective benefits of the medication.
