Osteoarthritis
"Osteoarthritis is the most common type of joint disease, affecting over 20 million individuals in the United States alone. It represents a heterogeneous group of conditions that result in common histopathologic and radiologic changes. It is a degenerative disorder that results from the biochemical breakdown of articular (hyaline) cartilage in the synovial joints. However, the current concept holds that osteoarthritis involves not just the articular cartilage but the entire joint organ, including the subchondral bone and synovium...
The goals of osteoarthritis treatment include pain alleviation and improvement of functional status; nonpharmacologic interventions are the cornerstones of osteoarthritis therapy and include patient education, temperature modalities, weight loss, exercise, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and joint unloading in certain joints (eg, knee, hip).
Intra-articular pharmacologic therapy includes corticosteroid injection and viscosupplementation, which may provide pain relief and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the affected joint.
Begin treatment with acetaminophen for mild or moderate pain without apparent inflammation; if the clinical response to acetaminophen is not satisfactory or if the clinical presentation is inflammatory, consider nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs).
If all other modalities are ineffective and osteotomy is not viable, or if a patient cannot perform his or her daily activities despite maximal therapy, arthroplasty is indicated..." *
Learn More: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/330487-overview
Glucosamine for Joint Health: Poolsup N, Suthisisang C, Channark P, Kittikulsuth W.Glucosamine long-term treatment and the progression of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ann Pharmacother 2005;39:1080-7.
"...The available evidence suggests that glucosamine sulfate may be effective and safe in delaying the progression and improving the symptoms of knee OA (osteoarthritis)..." *
Learn More: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15855241?dopt=Abstract
Chondroitin for Joint Health: McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Gulin JP, Felson DT.Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. JAMA 2000;283:1469-75.
"...Trials of glucosamine and chondroitin preparations for OA (osteoarthritis) symptoms demonstrate moderate to large effects..." *
Learn More: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10732937?dopt=Abstract
SAMe for Joint Health: Soeken KL, Lee WL, Bausell RB, et al. Safety and efficacy of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) for osteoarthritis. J Fam Pract 2002;51:425-30.
"...SAMe appears to be as effective as NSAIDs in reducing pain and improving functional limitation in patients with OA (osteoarthritis). without the adverse effects often associated with NSAID therapies..." *
Learn More: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12019049?dopt=Abstract
Devel's Claw for Joint Health: Wegener T, Lupke NP. Treatment of patients with arthrosis of hip or knee with an aqueous extract of devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC). Phytother Res 2003;17:1165-72.
"...Although this was an open clinical study, the results suggest that this Devil”s claw extract has a clinically beneficial effect in the treatment of arthrosis of the hip or knee..." *
Learn More: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14669250?dopt=Abstract
Indian Frankincense for Joint Health: Sengupta K, Alluri KV, Satish AR, et al. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin. Arthritis Res Ther 2008;10:R85.
"5-Loxin is a novel Boswellia serrata extract (Indian Frankincense)….5-Loxin reduces pain and improves physical functioning significantly in OA patients; and it is safe for human consumption. 5-Loxin may exert its beneficial effects by controlling inflammatory responses through reducing proinflammatory modulators, and it may improve joint health by reducing the enzymatic degradation of cartilage in OA patients." *
Learn More: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18667054?dopt=Abstract
Collagen type II for Joint Health: Barnett ML, Combitchi D, Trentham DE. A pilot trial of oral type II collagen in the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:623-8.
"...Oral CCII (collagen type II) may be a safe and effective therapy for JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)..." *
Learn More: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12841346?dopt=Abstract
Curcumin for Joint Health: Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Dugall M, et al. Efficacy and safety of Meriva, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, during extended administration in osteoarthritis patients. Alt Med Rev 2010:15:337-4.
"In a previous three-month study of Meriva, a proprietary curcumin-phosphatidylcholine phytosome complex, decreased joint pain and improvement in joint function were observed in 50 osteoarthritis (OA) patients..." *
Learn More: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15795711?dopt=Abstract