3-in-1 supplement helps relieve knee osteoarthritis

MANILA, Philippines - Knee osteoarthiritis can be a very painful and disabling ailment to have. Aside from having to endure the pain it causes, it could also render the patient unable to walk properly and perform certain other physical activities. Without proper treatment, the effects of this disease will just keep getting worse.

There are many treatment options for knee osteoarthritis though. These include exercise and physical therapy, weight loss (for obesity cases), topical creams, knee braces, re-lubrication of the cartilage through steroid and viscosupplement injections and surgery.

In terms of oral medications, however, the three widely used natural supplements used for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis are glucosamine, chondroitin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM).

These three have been found to work best when used in combination with each other which is why these have been combined and made available in one food supplement called OsteoAid, locally available over-the-counter in Mercury and other leading drug stores.

Doctors prescribe it at a dose of one capsule twice daily. In severe cases, the dose is increased to three capsules daily.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common type of osteoarthritis. It is when the cartilage in between the knee joints deteriorates causing pain, stiffness and limited range of motion, or some swelling on the knees.

It could be brought upon by previous injuries or repetitive strains on the knee, obesity or even genetics. Pain from knee osteoarthritis usually worsens following activity or overuse of the knee. Sitting for prolonged periods of time could also worsen the stiffness of the knee. And as this disease progresses, the severity of its symptoms will gradually get worse.

Glucosamine is a natural supplement that comes from chitin found in the coverings of various shellfish and insects that is used to stimulate the formation and repair of the cartilage.

It is typically partnered with chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis. It is believed that while glucosamine rebuilds the cartilage, chondroitin, on the other hand, blocks enzymes that destroy and weaken the cartilage.

Various studies have attested to the pain, stiffness and swell-relieving effects of glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis.

In a study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers assessed actual structural improvements in the knee joints though X-rays of patients treated with glucosamine and chondroitin against placebo, over a period of three years.

They found that those who were treated with glucosamine, aside from the significant reduction in pain and stiffness, showed no average change or narrowing of joint spaces in the knees.

The placebo group, on the other hand, had their joint spaces narrowed over the three-year period, which is an indication of cartilage deterioration.

Another dietary supplement for the treatment of osteoarthritis is MSM. It can also be taken as a single agent or in combination with other supplements for osteoarthirits.

With regard to its efficacy as a single agent, the study titled “Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee pilot clinical trial” evaluated MSM through a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 50 men and women, aged 40 to 76, with knee osteoarthitis pain were given MSM or placebo for 12 weeks.

Its results showed that compared to placebo, MSM produced significant decreases in pain and physical function impairment based on the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index visual analogue scale. MSM also produced improvement in performing activities of daily living when compared to placebo.

MSM, when used in combination with glucosamine, was found to speed up the anti-inflammatory effect and further reduce pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

According to a report in the June 2004 issue of Clinical Drug Investigations, combination therapy showed better efficacy in reducing pain and swelling and in improving the functional ability of joints than the individual agents.

OsteoAid combines those three popular and effective nutrients for supporting joint health in one supplement.