Martin wrote:

On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:44:23 +0000, Terry Fields
wrote:


Pete wrote:

As a tomato lover and grower and arthritis sufferer, I would be interested
to learn of your source for the conflict between toms and arthritis.

The nightshade family contains the alkaloid solanin; it's thought that
arthritis sufferers can't process this into something harmless, so it
winds up irritating the already-inflamed joints.

As a result, missing out tomatoes and sweet peppers is a good idea, as
is taking cod liver oil, which produces natural prostaglandin
anti-inflammatories.

http://arthritis.about.com/b/2006/09...hade-foods.htm
"Nightshade Vegetables: Should People With Arthritis Avoid Nightshade Foods?

Nightshade vegetables are among the foods that some people feel can trigger
arthritis flares. Others feel their arthritis symptoms improve when nightshade
vegetables are avoided. What are nightshade vegetables? According to The George
Mateljan Foundation, food members of the nightshade family include:
potatoes (not sweet potatoes)
tomatoes
eggplant
sweet and hot peppers (including paprika, cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce)
ground cherries
tomatillos and tamarillos
garden huckleberry and naranjillas
pepinos and pimentos
Should people with arthritis avoid nightshade vegetables? According to the
University of Washington website, "No foods have been definitively shown to
cause or exacerbate arthritis in most individuals. A variety of diets and
hand-me-down information exists about certain foods and arthritis, in particular
the night shade plants, but none of it has been proven." The effect of foods on
arthritis symptoms vary greatly from person to person. It is an individual
decision whether or not to avoid nightshade vegetables."

The full paper (referenced) is also interesting:

http://www.noarthritis.com/research.htm

Abstract
Diet appears to be a factor in the etiology of arthritis based on
surveys of over 1400 volunteers during a 20-year period. Plants in the
drug family, Solanaceae (nightshades) are an important causative
factor in arthritis in sensitive people. This family includes potato
(Solanum tuberosum L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), eggplant
(Solanum melongena L.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), and peppers
(Capsicum sp.) of all kinds except the black pepper (family,
Piperaceae). A buildup of cholinesterase inhibiting glycoalkaloids and
steroids from consumption and/or use (tobacco) of the nightshades and
from other sources such as caffeine and some pesticides
(organophosphates and carbamates) may cause inflammation, muscle
spasms, pain, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis appears to be a result of
long-term consumption and/or use of the Solanaceae which contain
naturally the active metabolite, vitamin D3, which in excess causes
crippling and early disability (as seen in livestock). Rigid omission
of Solanaceae, with other minor diet adjustments, has resulted in
positive to marked improvement in arthritis and general health.