Arthritis Psoriatic Arthritis Does Vitamin C Help Psoriatic Arthritis? By Rebeca Schiller Rebeca Schiller Rebeca Schiller is a health and wellness writer with over a decade of experience covering topics including digestive health, pain management, and holistic nutrition. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 21, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Ozeri, MD Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD LinkedIn David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist from Tel Aviv, Israel specializing in arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and biologic therapies. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Benefits of Vitamin C Vitamin C for Psoriatic Arthritis How to Increase Vitamin C Intake Frequently Asked Questions Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that’s found in many foods, including citrus (such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit), guavas, chili peppers, strawberries, broccoli, kale, and certain herbs like thyme and parsley. Recognized as an antioxidant, research on vitamin C has looked into how it may help prevent or hinder the development of some cancers and other diseases characterized by inflammation. Two such conditions studied are psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Bowonpat Sakaew / EyeEm / Getty Images Benefits of Vitamin C Vitamin C plays an important role in immune function and improves your absorption of iron. It helps to protect cells and keep them healthy. It also helps maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bones, and cartilage. Studies show a positive link between vitamin C and bone density. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that blocks damage caused by free radicals, which are oxygen-containing molecules released when your body breaks down food or when you are exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation. A buildup of free radicals contributes to the aging process and the development of certain conditions, including: Heart disease Arthritis Cancer Atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty deposits in the walls of arteries Vitamin C is a necessary element for the body to make collagen—a key component of cartilage. It also plays an important role in the immune system, by regulating the production of cytokines (inflammatory proteins) and decreasing histamines levels that are triggered by allergens. 6 Inflammation-Fighting Vitamins Vitamin C for Psoriatic Arthritis Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory form of arthritis that develops in some people with psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes skin cells to build up and form plaques, dry, inflamed raised lesions on the skin. The cause of psoriatic arthritis is unclear, but researchers think it includes both environmental and genetic factors. In one case review, a 36-year-old woman with severe psoriasis since the age of 22 had been prescribed topical anti-steroid cream during that 14-year period. Doctors suggested a diet rich in fruits and vegetable and the addition of several supplements, including vitamin C. After six months on the diet and supplements, the patient's psoriasis completely cleared up. Both animal and human studies have shown the positive effects of vitamin C on cartilage, as well. One study in rats showed that vitamin C reduced cartilage loss and prevented the progression of osteoarthritis ("wear and tear" arthritis that gets worse with age). In another study, researchers discovered that high levels of vitamin C intake helped reduce cartilage and joint damage. Does Vitamin C Have a Positive or Negative Effect on Arthritis? How to Increase Vitamin C Intake Fruits and vegetables are your best sources for vitamin C, followed by supplements. The recommended dietary allowances for vitamin C for adults aged 19 years and older is 90 milligrams for men and 75 milligrams for women, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you are pregnant, you can take up to 85 milligrams, and 115 milligrams if you are breastfeeding. Smokers, burn victims, and people recovering from surgery will need extra vitamin C in their diets. Some diets like the Mediterranean diet and vegetarian and vegan diets will usually provide you with sufficient sources of vitamin C. Five servings of fruits and vegetables per day can contain over 200 milligrams of vitamin C. To get the optimal daily allowance of vitamin C, eat fruits and vegetables raw. Storing produce for a long time and cooking it in certain ways, like steaming or microwaving, may reduce some of the vitamin C. Dietary Sources The following fruits are the best sources of vitamin C: Oranges and orange juiceGrapefruit and grapefruit juiceStrawberriesRaspberriesBlueberriesCranberriesCantaloupeKiwiPapayaPineappleWatermelon The following vegetables are the best sources of vitamin C: BroccoliBrussels sproutsCauliflowerBell peppers (green and red)SpinachCabbageTurnip greensOther leafy greensTomatoes and tomato juiceWinter squash Some foods, like grains, cereals, and processed foods, have added vitamin C. To see how much added vitamin C is in food products, check their nutrition labels. Supplements If you’re not eating the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, you can take a vitamin C supplement in tablet, capsule, or chewable forms two to three times daily with a meal. Supplements are also available in powder, crystalline, and liquid forms. Supplement dosage ranges from 25–1,000 milligrams. If you have digestive issues, you can take buffered versions of vitamins. If you’re taking any type of medication for a health condition, consult with your doctor before starting to take a vitamin C supplement. Also, vitamin C has a diuretic effect, so be sure to drink enough water to stay hydrated. The 6 Best Vitamin C Supplements, According to a Dietitian Summary Vitamin C is crucial to various healthy body functions, including the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. When it comes to psoriatic arthritis, getting enough vitamin C is especially important because the vitamin helps maintain cartilage and blocks the damage caused by free radicals that can contribute to arthritis. Also, Vitamin C is an antioxidant, so it may help reduce inflammation, which is common is psoriatic arthritis. A Word From Verywell While there is no cure for PsA, you can lessen flare-ups (when symptoms worsen) and help reduce the progression of the disease with a change in lifestyle that includes a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. These foods have high levels of antioxidants, which aid in reducing the inflammation of psoriatic arthritis. Frequently Asked Questions What causes psoriatic arthritis flare-ups? Causes for flare-ups include skipping your medication and injuring your joints. For example, banging your elbow into something can cause inflammation in that area. Certain foods like sugary drinks, sodas, and high-fat and salty foods like processed snacks, as well as lack of exercise, can all trigger flare-ups. What foods trigger psoriatic arthritis? Avoid food that has added sugar, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates, including processed foods. These foods can trigger inflammation in the body and lead to flare-ups. How do you treat psoriatic arthritis? There are several ways to treat PsA, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which can help slow disease progression. Other forms of treatment include exercise, heat and cold therapy, splinting body parts, proper body mechanics, like maintaining good posture, and surgery. Another form of treatment is biologics, which are made from living organisms and can help prevent and treat diseases. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Cancer Institute. Intravenous high-dose vitamin C in cancer therapy. MedlinePlus. Vitamin C. Mount Sinai Health System. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) information. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(11). doi:10.3390/nu9111211 Cleveland Clinic. Psoriatic arthritis: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment. WONG AP, KALINOVSKY T, NIEDZWIECKI A, RATH M. Efficacy of Nutritional Treatment in Patients with Psoriasis: A Case Report. Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(3):1071-1073. DOI: 10.3892/etm.2015.2631 Chiu PR, Hu YC, Huang TC, et al. Vitamin C Protects Chondrocytes against Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis by Multiple Pathways. Int J Mol Sci. 2016;18(1). doi:10.3390/ijms18010038 Joseph GB, Mcculloch CE, Nevitt MC, et al. Associations between Vitamin C and D Intake and Cartilage Composition and Knee Joint Morphology over 4 years: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). doi:10.1002/acr.24021 National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements - Vitamin C. Harvard Health Publishing. The sweet danger of sugar. Cleveland Clinic. Rheumatoid Arthritis: How to Treat. National Cancer Institute. Biologic Agent.