The major dietary recommendation
approved by mainstream physicians for
patients with OA is keeping one’s weight at a healthy
level.
The reason is that OA primarily affects the weightbearing
joints of the body, and even a few pounds of extra
weight can increase the pressure on damaged jointswhen
the person moves or uses the joint.
It is estimated that
that a force of three to six times the weight of the body is
exerted across the knee joint when a person walks or
runs; thus being only 10 pounds overweight increases
the forces on the knee by 30 to 60 pounds with each
step.
Conversely, even amodest amount of weight reduction
lowers the pain level in personswith OA affecting the
knee or foot joints.
Obesity is a definite risk factor for
developing OA; data from the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) indicate that obese women are 4 times as
likely to develop OA as non-obese women, while for
obese men the risk is 5 times as great.
Although some doctors recommend trying a vegetarian
or vegan diet as a safe approach to weight loss
for patients with OA, most will approve any nutritionally
sound calorie-reduction diet that works well for
the individual patient.
Dietary supplements are
commonly recommended for managing the discomfort
of OA and/or slowing the rate of cartilage
deterioration:
-Chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin sulfate is a compound
found naturally in the body that is part of a
large protein molecule called a proteoglycan, which
imparts elasticity to cartilage. The supplemental
form is derived from animal or shark cartilage. Recommended
daily dose is 1200 mg.
-Glucosamine. Glucosamine is a form of amino sugar
that is thought to support the formation and repair
of cartilage. It can be extracted from crab, shrimp, or
lobster shells. The recommended daily dose is 1500
mg. Dietary supplements that combine chondroitin
sulfate and glucosamine can be obtained over the
counter in most pharmacies or health food stores.
-Botanical preparations: Some naturopaths recommend
extracts of yucca, devil’s claw, hawthorn berries,
blueberries, and cherries. These extracts are thought
to reduce inflammation in the joints and enhance the
formation of cartilage. Powdered ginger has also been
used to treat joint pain associated with OA.
-Vitamin therapy. Some doctors recommend increasing
one’s daily intake of vitamins C, E, A, and B6,
which are required to maintain cartilage structure.
-Avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU). ASU is a
compound of the fractions of avocado oil and soybean
oil that are left over from the process of making
soap. It contains one part avocado oil to two parts
soybean oil. ASU was first developed in France,
where it is available by prescription only under the
name Piascle´ dine, and used as a treatment for OA in
the 1990s. It appears to work by reducing inflammation
and helping cartilage to repair itself. ASU can
be purchased in theUnited States as an over-the-counter
dietary supplement. The recommended daily dose is
300 mg.
