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The findings show drinking just one glass of freshly squeezed orange juice each day could have positive effects.

The juice boosts levels of vitamin C and the antioxidant beta-cryptoxanthin.

These compounds can protect against developing inflammatory joint diseases, the study found.

Rheumatoid arthritis currently affects around 1% of adults in the UK.

Arthritis risk

Researchers from The University of Manchester worked with colleagues from the Institute of Public Health at the University of Cambridge.

They analysed data from a study of more than 25,000 subjects to investigate the association between dietary carotenoids - pigments found in the foods - and arthritis risk.

Between 1993 and 2001, the subjects were followed to assess the occurrence of arthritis affecting multiple joints.

Researchers found patients who had developed inflammatory diseases had a 40% lower average intake of these compounds than those who had not developed similar diseases.

"Vitamin C was also found to be an important factor," Dr Dorothy Pattison, who led the research, said.

The researchers' findings have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4159340.stm