Posted by: Maria/MD Health.com Team

Arthritis is a group of more than a hundred conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Its most common form is osteoarthritis which is associated with excessive wear and tear of cartilage. Some forms of arthritis affect other tissues and organs in the body, and can result in debilitating complications. Arthritis is a health problem that knows no boundaries. It can affect anyone regardless of age, race or gender. Contrary to a common misconception, arthritis is not limited to people of advanced age. Joint disorders strike millions adults in their working age, but children are not spared from these problems. In the US alone, it’s been estimated that nearly 300,000 children have some form of arthritis.

Inflammation is a natural response of the body that causes redness, pain, swelling, and loss of motion in an affected area. The body’s immune system sets it off to fight any injurious stimuli and to initiate healing process of the affected tissues. Inflammation naturally goes away once the body is able to ward-off what it perceives as threat. However, in many forms of arthritis, inflammation does not go away as it should. Instead, it contributes to the problem and damages healthy tissues of the body. The damage can change the affected tissues, sometimes causing deformities and making movement difficult and painful.

Treatment
Treatment of arthritis is dependent on its type and severity. In common types of arthritis, the treatment goals focus on reducing symptoms, maintaining joint function, and preventing further joint damage and deformities. Arthritis can be effectively managed with medications, therapy, rest, and lifestyle changes. Researchers continue to work on developing better treatments for arthritis and in some cases, delay the progression of the disease.

Glucosamine and osteoarthritis
Glucosamine, a compound produced naturally in the body, has been the subject of many arthritis research. Glucosamine plays a significant part in making healthy connective tissues, its amount in the body is thought to decrease with age.

Research shows good evidence to support the use of glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis. One of these was the 3-year study done by researchers from Charles University, Prague. Results of this research was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Two hundred two people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis took part in the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. They were given either a daily dose of 1500 mg of glucosamine sulfate or a placebo. The investigator assessed arthritis symptoms using Lesquesne index and the WOMAC. Structural changes on the joint space of the site of arthritis were monitored by x-ray.

Over the 3-year period, the placebo group had progressive joint space narrowing, which is considered as a sign of deterioration. In contrast, those who were given glucosamine sulfate showed no average change or narrowing of joint spaces. Lequesne index and the WOMAC total index show that glucosamine sulfate is better than placebo by 20- 25% in relieving symptoms of arthritis. The investigators then concluded that long-term treatment with glucosamine sulfate delayed the progression of knee osteoarthritis.

Exercise and glucosamine sulfate
Aside from medications, exercise is generally recommended in some forms of arthritis. Walking is among the activities that are thought to reduce pain and improve physical function in people with OA. A few months ago, the result of the feasibility trial which evaluated the effects of walking in combination with glucosamine sulfate supplementation in osteoarthritis was published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Dr Kristiann Heesch and colleagues researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia studied studied 36 osteoarthritis patients (aged 42-73 years). The patients were given 1500 mg glucosamine sulfate daily for six weeks, after which they continued to take the supplement while on a 12-week progressive walking program. The patients were randomized to walk 3 or 5 days per week. To monitor step counts, they were given a pedometer. For both groups, the number of steps per day was increased gradually to 3000 during the first 6 weeks, and up to 6000 steps for the next 6 weeks.

The patients’ physical activity levels, physical function, and total WOMAC scores were assessed at baseline and every 6 weeks throughout the trial. The investigators found that both groups had significant improvement in their symptoms. In addition, their analysis suggests increasing the number of steps resulted in increased physical activity, further reduction in pain scores, and improvements in physical function. However, there wasn’t much difference in the outcome measures between the two groups.

According to Dr Heesh, their research provide preliminary evidence that walking a minimum of 3000 steps per day, for at least 3 days a week, in combination with glucosamine sulphate, may benefit osteoarthritis sufferers. He added that if the benefits of this program are confirmed by further studies with larger sample, it could be promoted to increase physical activity among people with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/glucosamine/NS_patient-glucosamine/DSECTION=evidence

Pavelka et al. Glucosamine Sulfate Use and Delay of Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis - a 3-year, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study.Glucosamine Sulfate Use and Delay of Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis - a 3-year, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study. Arch Intern Med. 2002 Oct 14;162(18):2113-23.

Ng et al. Efficacy of a progressive walking program and glucosamine sulphate supplementation on osteoarthritic symptoms of the hip and knee: a feasibility trial. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 2010; 12 (1): R25 DOI: 10.1186/ar2932
ScienceDaily 15 February 2010. 10 March 2010

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/717324

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