Bone Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis

            Arthritis is the most common disability in America (1). There are actually over 100 different types of arthritis, depending on the cause of the illness and the location in the body. The most common types are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage surrounding the joints of the bone break down, exposing the joint underneath to wear and tear. Symptoms of osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, are often pain in one or a few joints, and morning stiffness. Osteoarthritis differs from rheumatoid arthritis in that the latter is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system attacks its own joints, the reasons for which are not completely understood. Like the bone loss disease osteoporosis, osteoarthritis appears to be the gradual wearing out of the skeletal frame, except that in osteoarthritis the areas bordering the bone (joints, muscles, tendons, and cartilage) are affected. Also, just as in osteoporosis, low estrogen levels increase the risk of osteoarthritis (1).

            Osteoarthritis occurs most often between the ages of forty and sixty. It affects almost everyone to some degree over age sixty, and affects three times as many women as men (2). Causes of arthritis include: joint instability, genetic predisposition, age-related changes, hormonal factors, and altered biochemistry (3). There could also be a connection between diet and osteoarthritis in some people. Some researchers and practitioners believe that people who are sensitive to the alkaloid chemicals in a vegetable group called the nightshades tend to develop osteoarthritis (4).The nightshade group of vegetables include: potatoes, tobacco, tomatoes, eggplants, and all peppers except white and black peppers.

            There are several different supplements than can help the condition of osteoarthritis in many ways, including reducing the pain involved, slowing the progression of joint disease, or even reversing some of the joint damage. Vitamin C is essential to maintaining healthy joints, since it plays a large role in the synthesis of the protein collagen. Collagen is crucial to the development and maintenance of muscle, cartilage, tendon, and bone structure (5). Arthritis patients that had high vitamin C intakes decreased their risk of disease progression by 300% (6).

            Two other supplements have shown some promise in helping osteoarthritis. Vitamin E can reduce osteoarthritis-induced pain, and also helps to build cartilage (5). Do not take more than 200 IU/day of mixed tocopherols that have been refrigerated unless otherwise directed by your physician. S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is a unique molecule and supplement that can help the body in many different ways. SAMe may decrease osteoarthritic pain as effectively as drugs like Ibuprofen, with lesser side effects (7). Do not take SAMe without notifying your physician.

            Last but not least, two of the most popular supplements for fighting osteoarthritis are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. There is some evidence that taken together, they may work even better than taken alone (8). Glucosamine has been proven effective in controlling arthritis symptoms (9). The sulfate form of Glucosamine seems to be the best for combating osteoarthritis (10). Chondroitin sulfate (shark cartilage) can effectively decrease osteoarthritic pain when used long-term (11).

Below are potential side effects associated with various osteoarthritis therapies. Pregnant and nursing women should not take the supplements below. Notify your physician before starting any of the supplements below.

 

Drugs

Rumalon

Kidney and liver damage

Corticosteroids, including Prednisone

Adrenal gland shrinkage, cataracts, weight gain, diabetes, osteoporosis, infection

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDS) (ex. Ibuprofen)

Ulcers, kidney problems, death

 

Vitamins

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3, Nicotinamide)

Should not be used in people with ulcers or liver problems

Vitamin D

Should be used under 1200 IU/day unless otherwise directed by physician

 

Herbs

Frankincense (Boswellia)

Anorexia, dermatitis

(English) Hawthorn Berry

Heart palpitations, tachycardia, multiple drug interactions

Bilberry

Cannot be taken in high doses (death can result), cannot be used with blood-thinning drugs

 

Accessory Supplements

Chondroitin Sulfate (shark cartilage)

Relatively safe, but may be very poorly absorbed

Sea Cucumber extract

Relatively safe

Glucosamine

Insulin resistance

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine)

Hypomania, anxiety, insomnia

Borage Oil

Seizures, cannot be used with blood-thinning drugs

Bromelain

Cannot be used with blood-thinning drugs, can increase blood levels of antibiotics

Flaxseed Oil

Relatively safe

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

Relatively safe

SOD (Superoxide Dismutase)

Relatively safe, but absorbability is very questionable

 

Minerals

Silicon (Silica)

Relatively safe, but very poorly absorbed and probably no benefit for supplementing

 

References:

1. Reavley, N. The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, and Herbs. New York, NY: M. Evan & Co., 1998.

2. Balch, P. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd Ed. Avery Books/Penguin Putnam Inc., 2000.

3. Burton Goldberg Group. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. Tiburon, CA: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc., 1997.

4. Colbin, A. Food and Our Bones. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1998.

5. Feinstein, A. Healing with Vitamins. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Books, Inc., 1996.

6. Mcalindon, et. al. Do antioxidant micronutrients protect against the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis? Arthritis & Rheumatism (1996) Apr, 39(4): 648-656.

7. di Padova, C. S-adenosylmethionine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Review of the clinical studies. The American Journal of Medicine (1987) 83(5A): 60-65.

8. PDR for Nutritional Supplements. Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR, 2001.

9. da Camara, C., & Dowless, G. Glucosamine sulfate for osteoarthritis. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy (1998) May, 32(5): 580-587.

10. Pujalte, et. al. Double-blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulphate in the basic treatment of osteoarthrosis. Current Medical Research and Opinion (1980) 7(2): 110-114.

11. Rejholec, V. Long-term studies of antiosteoarthritic drugs: An assessment. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (1987) 17(2-Suppl 1): 35-53.

Dr. Jensen is both a consultant and author in the BioMedical and Nutrition fields. He has previously written a book on both topics, The Failures of American Medicine, published in 2002. Dr. Jensen has also written a doctoral dissertation on how Vitamin C can reduce stress and allergies via its antihistamine effect. He has worked in a broad range of BioMedical fields, such as gene regulation, cancer research, and HIV vaccine development. However, Dr. Jensen eventually decided that helping people more directly would be more rewarding for everyone involved. He has since helped clients with dozens of different ailments. Dr. Jensen is a practitioner in the field of Metabolic Typing, which characterizes different biochemistries among people based on certain physical and behavioral traits they have.

You can contact Dr. Jensen at 1-800-390-5365, or mail him at drjensen@individualizednutrition.com.

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