Dietary Supplements Provide OA Relief

CHICAGOFor the 27 million Americans afflicted with osteoarthritis (OA), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities such as dietary supplements offer an efficacious option. Dr. Adam Perlman, M.D., FACP, MPH, explored the role of natural products and CAM therapies in OA management at the Ninth Annual Scientific Symposium, presented by the Natural Health Research Institute (NHRI) and the American Nutrition Association. NOW Foods and Protocol For Life Balance® sponsored the event, which was held at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Oct. 31.

In addition to acupuncture, thermal modalities and massage therapy, dietary supplements can provide relief to patients with OA, a debilitating, degenerative joint disease.

"Conventional treatment fails to alleviate symptoms fully, has a high cost and potential toxicities," said Perlman, associate vice president for health and wellness, Duke University Health System. Perlman is also executive director of Duke Integrative Medicine, a new medical model that integrates Western medicine with proven traditional methods.

Dietary supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), omega-3 fatty acids and Pycnogenol may fill the gap left by pricey and sometimes ineffective traditional medical treatments.

In his presentation, Dr. Perlman addressed concerns about the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin on OA raised by a 2006 New England Journal of Medicine article. The study authors concluded, "Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination did not reduce pain effectively in the overall group of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee," while noting supplementation may be effective in patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain (N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb 23;354(8):795-808.).

Dr. Perlman elaborated: "When it's bone-on-bone arthritis, it's not going to make much of a difference because it's too late. But the moderately severe patient, that's where this combination can be beneficial." Many rheumatologists recommend glucosamine and chondroitin for OA prevention, Dr. Perlman said.

Similarly, Dr. Perlman discussed SAMe, which stimulates proteoglycan synthesis in OA cartilage. In one clinical trial, 1,200 mg daily of SAMe proved comparable to 1,200 of Ibuprofen over four weeks (Am J Med. 1987 Nov 20;83(5A):81-3.). Though limited in human trials, MSM has shown promise in animal inflammatory joint disease studies. Dr. Perlman explained sulfur is needed for formulation of cartilage and other connective tissue in the body.

Other natural ingredients positioned for osteoarthritis management include omega-3 fatty acids, avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), ginger, Phytodolor, Boswelia serrata, Zyflamend and Pycnogenol, which "may have other positive cardiovascular benefits, so it's a win-win," Dr. Perlman added.

Discover more about these proven natural products in INSIDER's Ageless Ingredients Digital Issue.