Saturday, February 7, 2009

Supplements For Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

By Amy Clark

At present, Osteoarthritis or OA is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting individuals in the whole world. Osteoarthritis is particularly predominant among older people, as well as among patients who have excessive pressure on the joints, or back, knee, neck, and other joint injuries.

One more form of arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (a.k.a. RA), is somewhat rare, only affecting roughly 1 percent of the population. Regardless, we may have all seen rheumatoid arthritis in 1 form or another.

Fortunately, various nutritional supplements can now help arthritis sufferers control the painful and debilitating symptoms of RA and OA. The following are some of the nutritional supplements that have been proven reliable in the treatment of arthritis:

Omega-3 fatty acids: These basically work as anti-inflammatories that can suppress rheumatoid arthritis progression. These supplements can also control OA symptoms, and sometimes decrease the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.

EPA/DHA: Clinical studies have revealed that 1,400mg of EPA daily along with 1,000 mg of DHA every day can reliably treat both osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis. The Super Omega-3 EPA/DHA is a particularly powerful supplement, since it consists of such natural ingredients as Sesame Lignans and Olive Fruit Extract.

Curcumin: Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory derived from Tumeric that inhibits various harmful enzymes, consequently treating the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. On the other hand, various types of Curcumin lack sufficient quantities of Piperine, a black pepper component. As a consequence, those who take Curcumin do not receive the appropriate dosage they need for successful treatment.

This is the activated form of methionine, a type of amino acid. Since it functions as an activated form, SAMe is naturally transformed to cysteine within the body. In consequence, it contains anti-oxidants that help combat OA and RA, as well as suppress harmful enzymes in the cartilage.

Chondroitin: Chondroitin sulphate, a component of the articular cartilage, plays an important role in cartilage development. Chondroitin has been proven to be effective in restoring mobility and relieving pain, ultimately treating osteoarthritis. Additionally, Chondroitin also averts more joint damage that results from corrosive OA.

Glucosamine: Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance that is required in cartilage development. However, in osteoarthritis cases, the synthesis of glucosamine is damaged, consequently blocking cartilage growth. Therefore, using a Glucosamine supplement will promote cartilage growth. Moreover, Also, this supplement is effective in RA treatment as it functions against inflammation and helps protect the joints.

MSM (methyl sulfonylurea methane): MSM is a molecule that is present in specific tissues of our body. It contains the same sulphur that supports our body's structural molecules. It is for this reason that MSM works effectively in osteoarthritis treatment.

Green Tea: Green tea compounds have been proven to be reliable in blocking certain cytokines, thus impeding OA and RA progression. Green tea also serves to relieve inflammation.

Vitamin C: Abundant with strong anti-oxidants, Vitamin C fights oxidative stress and rids the body of harmful radicals. Consequently, it alleviates the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. As the human body does not naturally produce Vitamin C, it is essential that you consume it from different sources.

Vitamin E: This vitamin is also a potent anti-oxidant that isn't only fundamental in OA and RA treatment, but also in enhancing your everyday health and general wellbeing. - 15438

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