Arthritis is related to the immune system. metabolic and oxidative stress

"Rheumatoid arthritis is linked to other bacteria, called Proteus. Proteus is also a common cause of urinary tract infections. Women suffer urinary tract infections as well as rheumatoid arthritis twice as often as men, while men usually have higher levels of Klebsiella and three times more ankylosing spondylitis than women." (1)

University of Calgary "RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS is a disease that causes severe pains around joints. Arthritis causes joint inflammation, and in this disease the immune system (which normally protects the body from disease) seems to have gone awry. Instead of fighting disease, the immune system turns against parts of the body, especially joints, in a process known as the autoimmune response. This results in severe inflammation. As of now, there is no known cure for this disease and much speculation has surfaced. One possibility for treatment involves controlling NF kappa B, (See our page on KappaB) which would then potentially prevent these inflammatory responses in joints. Anti-inflammatory drugs exist (i.e. glucocorticoids) that are inhibitors of NF kappa B, but it is uncertain if the inflammatory cells simply die or if the inhibitors have an alternative effect" (2)

MSM is considered a helpful treatment for arthritus. "MSM,...povides sulfur, a vital building block of joints, cartilage, skin, hair and nails,...including energy production..." (3) "Some researchers have suggested that MSM has anti-inflammatory effects." (4)