Arthritis – What is it?
The word ‘arthritis’ means ‘inflammation of the joint’. There are more than 150 forms of arthritis, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common.
It is estimated 1 in 5 Australians will experience some form of
arthritis during their lifetime1.
Osteoarthritis is caused by a breakdown of the cartilage inside the joints. Cartilage is the firm cushion found between the two bones to stop them from grating against each other. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes brittle and erodes away, leading to inflammation, stiffness and pain.
Elderly people are at risk of developing osteoarthritis because of the cumulative effect of years of “wear and tear” on weight-bearing joints, such as the knees and hip. But other factors can also contribute, including joint abnormalities, fractures and gout.
Osteoarthritis generally creeps up slowly, with morning stiffness often being the first sign.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, can develop rapidly and can affect people of any age.
It differs from osteoarthritis in that it is essentially an auto-immune disease. A malfunction in the body’s immune system causes it to attack it’s own joint tissues, causing inflammation, swelling, and sometimes deformity of the joints in later stages.
Not as much is known about the possible triggers of rheumatoid arthritis, which may include hereditary, nutritional or environmental factors.
What can be done?
NSAID’s (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs)
Pain relief is often prescribed in the form Paracetamol,
NSAID’s (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and Cox-2
Inhibitor drugs (such as Celebrex), depending on the stage and severity
of the disease.
While very effective, there are well-known side effects to these drugs – NSAID’s, for example, may cause gastrointestinal upset, ulcer formation, headaches and dizziness. A less well-known side effect is further degeneration of the joint cartilage. Studies have shown aspirin and other NSAIDs inhibit cartilage synthesis and accelerate cartilage destruction.2
Put simply, NSAIDs appear to suppress the symptoms but may accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis.
Natural Alternatives to NSAIDs
Glucosamine sulphate – “Joint Food”
Glucosamine sulphate supplements have grown in popularity
in recent years as a natural alternative for osteoarthritis management.
A large number of studies have shown it helps improve the symptoms
of osteoarthritis, especially the relief of pain.3-6
In fact glucosamine has been demonstrated to be at least as effective as the popular NSAID painkiller ibuprofen.7,8
Research shows it may also help slow - and in many cases, reverse - the progression of the disease.9 Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance within the body, and its primary role is to stimulate the production of cartilage compounds to keep joints in a state of constant repair.
A recent long term study evaluated the effect of supplementing glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis patients over three years. The study showed minimal deterioration in the joints of people treated with glucosamine as compared to the placebo.10
Glucosamine is generally viewed as a safe, well tolerated and natural
product, with fewer side effects than NSAIDs.11 In most clinical studies 1500mg was the recommended daily dose.
Note: It is important to remember to choose a Glucosamine Sulphate
supplement (check the label), as this is the form of glucosamine
found most effective in clinical trials.
Glucosamine is suitable for Diabetics
Taking glucosamine supplements doesn’t affect glucose levels
in patients with type 2 diabetes. In fact, glucosamine may be safer
than some other treatments for painful joints.12
Chondroitin Sulfate
Many Glucosamine supplements also contain Chondroitin,
another form of sugar molecule said to help protect cartilage from
deterioration. However in contrast to glucosamine, which is absorbed
easily, chondroitin sulfate is too large a molecule to be absorbed
intact through the digestive system. Thus, the reported clinical
benefits are most likely an indirect effect.13
Exercise – Move it or Lose it!
Exercise is crucially important for the management of arthritis,
particularly osteoarthritis.
Cartilage doesn’t have a blood supply - instead, it relies
on the synovial fluid moving in and out of the joint to nourish
it and take away it’s wastes. Keeping the joint mobile is
one way of improving cartilage health.
Exercise has a myriad of benefits for arthritis sufferers: it increases muscle strength, eases joint stiffness and improves flexibility, improves posture, keeps weight under control and lowers stress levels.
Warm water exercise (hydrotherapy) is particularly helpful for people with arthritis. Check with your local indoor pool – many hold special arthritis water exercise classes.
Whether it’s swimming, walking, cycling, or even tai chi or yoga, keeping active can greatly assist in pain management and quality of life.
Additional Measures
Balanced Diet
Obesity may worsen arthritis symptoms, by adding weight to joints
already under strain.
There is also a link between obesity and the risk of developing
osteoarthritis.
If you are overweight, it is important to try to reduce body weight
with a balanced diet (see your doctor for recommendations).
Apart from reducing weight, the Arthritis Foundation recommends eating a balanced diet, with plenty of non-alcoholic fluids and sufficient dietary calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.
However many elderly people may not meet the RDI (recommended dietary intake) of certain nutrients, due to poor appetite, illness or decreased absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. In these cases it may be necessary to supplement to support the diet.
For example antioxidant herbs and vitamins, found naturally in foods and in supplements, can support joint health by protecting against free radical damage.
Fish oil
Fish oils that contain omega-3 fatty acids have been found, in various
studies, to help reduce the inflammation associated with some sorts
of arthritis. These forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis
and osteoarthritis, are characterised by inflammation.
The fish oil works by reducing the number of inflammatory 'messenger' molecules made by the body's immune system.
The Arthritis Foundation recommends eating at least two fish meals a week - in particular fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines which contain the most omega-3. Alternatively, fish oil supplements are a convenient way to ensure a regular therapeutic dose. Supplements also have the added advantage of being purified of mercury, toxins and heavy metals.
Check with your doctor before making any changes to your medication or diet, or starting an exercise program.
References:
Available on request
This material is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, please contact your healthcare professional.
