Nutraceutical Combination In Osteoarthritis

Nutraceutical Combination In Osteoarthritis

  • 29 December, 2021
  • Edencels OnlineStore

Can long term usage of NSAIDs be minimized for symptom management of Osteoarthritis?

One of the most common miseries of aging life is ‘weakening knees’ which pain as the ability of the knee joints to carry the weight of the body declines. Such complaints point toward a particularly alarming and painful disease. The disorder that in fact affects more than 10 million people in India annually, is termed as Osteoarthritis (OA).

The 3rd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has found that age, obesity, and trauma are the major reasons of OA. Similar French study found that 80% of all people who suffer from Osteoarthritis reported to have limitations in performing basic tasks in their day-to- day lives. However, the treatment for OA currently involves only treating symptom pain and swelling and does not involve treating deep-rooted issues. Thus, OA is a slow deteriorating joint disease that affects people and their way of life. It is indeed a very painful and crippling condition.

Over a period, the protective cartilage in the knee-joint gradually gets eroded causing ever increasing pain. Since pain becomes the most difficult suffering, patients get compelled to depend on painkillers (usually NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). However, such NSAIDs instigate secretion of gastric acid leading to hyperacidity and even gastric ulceration. Some of these painkillers / NSAIDs even affect the kidneys and liver, especially when taken for long time.

So, the paradox is, NSAIDs work to kill pain and inflammation of the joints but bring forth a new problem; pain in the stomach which can eventually end up being more dangerous! This is the dilemma of people suffering from OA!

The good news! Though it’s true that OA is painful and disabling but suffering with double trouble of NSAIDs is non-compulsory! Progress in science and technology has revealed a much safer and effective alternative through a nutraceutical solution. A combination of Curcumin (a specialised extracted compound from turmeric) and another extract from Boswellia serrata (commonly known as salai guggul, or shallaki) together work effectively in reducing the pain caused by OA without causing any untoward side effects like the NSAID painkillers do.

A renowned journal, The Molecular Medicine Reports of 2013 conducted a clinical evaluation of this combination (CB or Curcumin and extracts of Boswellia serrata) in patients suffering from OA of knee joints. In fact, Boswellia gum resin and turmeric have been in active use in traditional medicine for thousands of years and were found to greatly reduce the pain experienced in OA.

Osteoarthritis results in a pain that originates deep within the knee. The degree and extent of the pain can only be measured by asking patients and classifying them as mild, moderate, or severe. The research compared the degree of pain between two groups of patients. After receiving treatment for 3 months, majority of the patients reported satisfactory pain reduction. This research also evaluated the safety of the combination CB (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate etc). No adverse side effects were observed. Therefore, in conclusion, this nutraceutical combination, CB, is emerging as a better choice for symptom / pain management in OA. It has helped patients with further joint movements and was well tolerated by patients in the study, proving that this nutraceutical is superior for long term relief and use than common painkillers.

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