Information for Patients & Caregivers

Nutritional education 'vital for osteoarthritis sufferers'

Osteoarthritis sufferers should be properly educated about the benefits and shortcomings of nutritional supplements on the development and progression of the condition, it has been claimed.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are a number of food-stuffs that are often recommended to osteoarthritis sufferers but patients should not adopt unproven remedies wholesale.

People should be "fully educated about potential positive and negative effects", the organisation stated.

It added that when in doubt, osteoarthritis sufferers should consult their physician before they start taking supplements and ensure they do not interfere with their existing treatment programme.

Two of the most common supplements touted as beneficial for osteoarthritis patients are glucosamine and chondroitin - both of which occur naturally in the body.

Last year, research presented at the 2009 World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International showed that chondroitin has the potential to relieve pain in patients who develop synovitis following knee surgery.

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