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Non-Surgical Management of Osteoarthritis: Nutraceuticals CRYSTAL RIVER -- Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting approximately 40 million people in the United States. It is a leading cause of physical disability, increased need for health care and results in impaired quality of life. By the year 2020, this disease is expected to affect nearly 60 million Americans. No non-surgical management has been documented to affect the progression of osteoarthritis. Typical pharmacologic therapy for use to combat arthritis is presently a reduction in pain that is based on the use of analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. These medications are most commonly prescribed for arthritis to alleviate the pain associated with this disorder, but can cause serious adverse effects such as gastrointestinal track, kidney and bleeding disorders, particularly among the elderly. The use of over-the-counter nutraceuticals, such as glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, for the treatment of osteoarthritis has recently attracted substantial attention in the literature. Glucosamine is a precursor to a molecule called glycosaminoglycan. This molecule is used in the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in cartilage and is responsible for the resiliency of cartilage. Glucosamine is a hexamine sugar derived from animal products that is a basic building block for the biosynthesis of Type II collagen (the cartilage in your joint). It is administered orally and to some degree is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The recommended dose for glucosamine sulfate is 1500 mg daily and 1200 mg daily for chondroitin sulfate. A recent study evaluated the benefits of glucosamine and condroitin preparations for osteoarthritis symptoms using meta-analysis combined with the systematic quality assessments of clinical trials of these preparations. The ultimate conclusion was that both glucosamine and chondroid are likely to be effective therapies for the symptomatic management of OA. Treatment with these joint supporting supplements is based on the theory that oral consumption of glucosamine and chondroitin may increase the rate and formation of new cartilage by providing the necessary building blocks. It appears that these compounds are safe; however, the efficacy in the treatment of OA requires further studies. Contact one of our physicians via this web site or at 352-795-1300 for further information. |
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