Osteoarthritis
From The Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides (1997). This free database is provided for interest only. Linda's later writings refer to more up-to-date research.
Some causative factors- Chronic inflammation from old injury
- Constipation
- Chronic fluid and protein leakage into joint area due to flavonoid deficiency, aggravated by joint stress/injury/wear and tear
- Essential fatty acid deficiency
- Food allergy or intolerance
- Overacidity due to excess protein consumption
- Toxic overload
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
The association of vitamin C, beta carotene and vitamin E intake, with the incidence and progression of osteoarthritis was compared with that of non-antioxidant vitamins in 640 individuals given knee evaluations. It was found that a high intake of vitamin C significantly reduced the rate of cartilage loss (by 70%) in osteoarthritis sufferers. A reduction in the risk of osteoarthritis progression was also found for beta carotene and vitamin E, to a lesser degree. McAlindon TE et al: Do antioxidant micronutrients protect against the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis? Arthritis Rheum 39(4):648-56, 1996..
Promising nutritional researchMovement ability and pain were] assessed in three double-blind 4-6 week trials of glucosamine sulphate compared with placebo or with the painkiller ibuprofen in osteoarthritis sufferers. Glucosamine sulphate was significantly more effective than placebo and equally as effective as ibuprofen. While glucosamine sulphate was well tolerated, 37% of patients suffered adverse drug reactions from the ibuprofen. Rovati LC: Clinical research in osteoarthritis: design and results of short-term and long-term trials with disease-modifying drugs. Int J Tissue React 14(5):243-51, 1992.
A study carried out by 252 doctors in Portugal on 1208 arthritis sufferers found that symptoms of pain at rest, on standing, on exercise and limited active and passive movements improved significantly in 59% and "sufficiently" in a further 36% of patients, following supplementation with glucosamine sulphate for approximately 2 months. The improvement lasted for 6-12 weeks after the end of treatment. Tapadinhas MJ et al: Oral glucosamine sulphate in the management of arthrosis: report on a multi-centre open investigation in Portugal. Pharmatherapeutica 3(3):157-68, 1982.