The US CDC (Centre for Disease Control) states that: In the United States, 24% of all adults, or 58.5 million people, have arthritis. It is a leading cause of work disability, with annual costs for medical care and lost earnings of $303.5 billion.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that has a gradual onset of pain, stiffness, grating or clicking, loss of flexibility, and bone spurs. Can supplementation help support or even slow the impact of OA?
The pain of OA can affect any joint but is has been found that joints that take more weight are going to be affected first, specifically the hips and knees. If you do a lot of overhead work or anything repetitive then we see pain from our fingers, wrists to our shoulders.
The role of supplementation is to lessen the burden of inflammation. Inflammation plays a significant role in creating pain, so if we utilize products that work synergistically to reduce inflammation we can not only reduce pain but even help reduce further harm in the joints. So how does supplementation do this? What exactly is it targeting? Our target is reducing inflammatory markers called cytokines.
Pain in our joints is promoted by inflammatory cytokines known as interleukins (particularly IL-1 and IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). These cytokines contribute to damage of articular cartilage, predominantly by degrading proteins in the extracellular matrix and causing inflammation. Medicinal plants work to inhibit inflammatory mediators and interact with cytokines, which can actually be a broader mechanism of action than that of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
A few ingredients that I look for to achieve this include Curumin, Boswellic acid, Bromelain, Serrapeptase and Glucosamine.
Curcumin Extract
It is well known for its anti-inflammatory actions by modifying nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB) signaling, which is pro-inflammatory and COX-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) actions.
Boswellic Acids
They are able to decrease inflammation and prevent the destruction of articular cartilage by inhibiting the production of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Bromelain & Serrapeptase Enzymes
Bromelain is known as a plant enzyme, which can “digest” inflammatory compounds circulating in the body along with exhibiting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects by increasing serum fibrinolytic activity and reducing plasma fibrinogen and bradykinin levels. Serrapeptase works similarly to Bromelain.
Glucosamine
Is an amino sugar that comes from glucose and is a precursor to hyaluronic acid. In our bodies, Glucosamine acts as building blocks for joint structure and a possible delay in architectural joint damage.
Two of my most favorite products from PROVITA, which help reduce inflammation and joint decay are the Serra-Plus Forte and Arthro-FLX Forte.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/arthritis.htm
- Cameron M, Chrubasik S. Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(5):CD002947.
- Daily JW, Yang M, Park S. Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717-729.
- Ammon HP. Boswellic Acids and Their Role in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016;928:291-327.
- Pavan R, Jain S, Shraddha, Kumar A. Properties and therapeutic application of bromelain: a review. Biotechnol Res Int. 2012;2012:976203.
- Bolognesi G, Belcaro G, Feragalli B, et al. Movardol® (N-acetylglucosamine, Boswellia serrata, ginger) supplementation in the management of knee osteoarthritis: preliminary results from a 6-month registry study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016;20(24):5198-5204.
- Bruyère O, Altman RD, Reginster JY. Efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate in the management of osteoarthritis: Evidence from real-life setting trials and surveys. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2016;45(4 Suppl):S12-S17.
About the author
Dr. Taylor Bean is a Naturopathic Doctor and owner of TaylorMade Wellness in Salmon Arm, BC. She began her career working overseas In Singapore for two years, to now 6 years working in Canada, she has been able to blend Eastern and Western approaches from a clinical and cultural perspective. As a mother of two, she has a passion working with pregnant mothers achieve a healthy pregnancy and smooth labor along with working with children to help them thrive.
DISCLAIMER:
The statements on this website are informational only and shall not to be construed as medical advice to diagnose, prevent or treat any medical condition. Please consult your healthcare practitioner before taking natural supplements, especially if you have a serious health condition and you are on medication for it.