Why Joint Supplements

Do Joint Supplements Work?

Recently there has been a discussion in the media and on various blogs questioning the effectiveness of joint supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin. Quoting a few studies that purport to show the ineffectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin in relieving pain in people with arthritis of the knees and hips, the erroneous conclusion that has been drawn is that joint supplements do not work.

Interestingly, those who hold this position ignore studies showing the positive effects of joint supplements when compared with placebo or the more traditional NSAID therapies.
One famous study that is often quoted by those who don’t believe in the value of joint supplements allowed participants to use the pain killer acetaminophen (at up to 10 times the normal label dosage.) It is well accepted that acetaminophen can interfere with the actions of glucosamine, so it is no surprise that the study did not find positive benefit in all of the participants. However, the study did conclude that “the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may be effective in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain.”

The same people who like to quote studies that supposedly show a lack of benefit for the use of joint supplements ignore the millions of people and pets who actually improve when using these supplements. In my own practice, natural therapies including joint supplements, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal therapy, and cold laser therapy yield results far superior to the use of traditional conventional medicines (NSAIDS) with none of the side effects that can occur with conventional medical therapy. This is not a placebo effect:these are real patients with real pain (usually non-responsive to NSAID therapy) who improve dramatically when using joint supplements and other natural therapies. Dogs and cats whose owners had considered euthanasia due to the severity of their pets’ clinical signs now enjoy a few more years with pets who are walking normally and pain-free.

While skeptics often ignore the positive benefit of joint supplements seen in millions of patients clinically treated with these products, calling any positive response a “placebo” effect, they fail to offer any reasonable explanation of how this “placebo” effect consistently occurs in patients who fail to respond to conventional medical therapies.

I believe patients should be given a choice when deciding upon a treatment. If the patient chooses to use a joint supplement and it works for that patient, the patient benefits by using a therapy that tends to cost less and have fewer side effects than conventional medical therapy. If the joint supplement doesn’t work, the patient can always choose to use a conventional medical therapy.

In my experience, patients who choose joint supplements seem to be far more satisfied with the positive effects they experience than when they choose a conventional medical therapy. And for those patients who don’t respond to conventional medical therapy (and there are many,) the benefits of natural therapies such as joint supplements can allow them to heal and be free of pain when conventional medical therapies fail.

Do Joint Supplments work?

Do Joint Supplements Work?

The debate about the treatment of joint pain and its associated conditions has spanned almost three decades now, and most of its focus is centered on joint supplements. Osteoarthritis is the term for what is essentially the wearing out of normally smooth cartilage surfaces of joints.

This wear and tear of osteoarthritis can cause joint pain, swelling, and even deformity. Osteoarthritis is also the most common type of arthritis, as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis which just involves the swelling of cartilage rather than the breaking down of those essential tissues.

Because osteoarthritis is only worsened as the cartilage continues to break down, it is essential to repair the joints so that there is not any bone damage, such as bone spurs, as the bones rub together unprotected. But this is where modern medicine runs into an obstacle—how do we repair this condition?

Surgery

When osteoarthritis has become so intense that not only are the bones being damaged at the point of contact, but the damage has begun to stress the integrity of the rest of the bone shaft, a sufferer of osteoarthritis often has to resort to joint replacement.

Because modern medicine does not yet have a way to successfully manufacture cartilage that will be accepted by the body, doctors must saw out the bones around the joint and then screw in a synthetically produced joint that will not have any nerve tissue and thus will not hurt or break down with natural friction. This measure is often a last resort as the surgery is a major one and can cause a lot of trauma to the body.

Supplements

Since surgery is so obtrusive, dangerous, and expensive, there has been a clamor for alternative osteoarthritis treatments. It is for this reason that there has been so much research done in the field of joint supplements. Supplements that treat the conditions surrounding joint pain and health have mainly been derived from ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin.

Glucosamine was first used on thoroughbred dogs and cats that had been bred too narrowly and suffered joint problems as a result of the lack of genetic variety, but it has been used on humans since the 1960’s. Although it was mainly used by physicians and was really only available with a prescription, glucosamine became readily available and popular in the United States in the mid 1990’s.

Chondroitin is a part of the glycosaminoglycan molecule and is the most abundant molecule found in cartilage. Found naturally in the joints, chondroitin is mainly responsible for the resiliency of cartilage, and when taken orally it has shown to be able to increase the rate at which new cartilage forms by providing more of the necessary building blocks for the body.

Numerous clinical studies have been done on glucosamine and chondroitin alone, as well as their ability to work together, and an overwhelming majority of them have proven these molecules to reduce significant pain and facilitate motion, as opposed to the patients taking the placebo who saw neither of these results.

In fact the natural supplements were as successful as expensive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory injections (NSAIDs) which had been the first step before a joint replacement. Also these supplements provided the benefits of the NSAIDs without the side effects of gastrointestinal complaints and bleeding. Joint supplements are also more favorable than NSAIDs because they actually work to repair the damage of osteoarthritis, rather than just dull the pain.

If you’re looking for more than just a quick fix from joint pain, we believe that you should look to the repairing nature of supplements, rather than just the quick fix of pain numbing that so many other drugs offer.

Glucosamine and chondroitin for joints

For over two decades there has been a debate in the treatment of osteoarthritis about the use of the joint supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes problems of wearing out of the normal smooth cartilage surfaces of the joints. Often called wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis causes joint pain, swelling, and deformity. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis.

How do glucosamine and chondroitin work?
Glucosamine and chondroitin are two molecules that make up the type of cartilage found within joints. Inside your joints, cartilage undergoes a constant process of breakdown and repair. However, to be properly repaired, the building blocks of cartilage must be present and available. The theory behind using the glucosamine and chondroitin joint supplements is that more of the cartilage building blocks will be available for cartilage repair.

• Glucosamine is a precursor to a molecule called a glycosaminoglycan-this molecule is used in the formation and repair of cartilage.
• Chondroitin is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in cartilage and is responsible for the resiliency of cartilage.

Treatment with these joint supplements is based on the theory that oral consumption of glucosamine and chondroitin may increase the rate of formation of new cartilage by providing more of the necessary building blocks.

Do glucosamine and chondroitin supplements increase cartilage formation?
While it is an interesting theory, oral consumption of glucosamine and chondroitin has not been shown to alter the availability of these cartilage building blocks inside an arthritic joint. It has not been shown that consumption of joint supplements increases the quantity of these cartilage building blocks within any joint.

What research has investigated glucosamine and chondroitin?
There have been numerous studies to examine the treatment effects of glucosamine and chondroitin over short periods of time. Most of these studies last only one to two months; however, they have indicated that patients experienced more pain reduction when taking glucosamine and chondroitin than patients receiving a placebo. The improvement experienced by these patients was similar to improvements experienced by patients takingnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) that have been a mainstay of non-operative arthritis treatment. The difference is that NSAIDs carry an increased risk of side effects including gastrointestinal complaints and bleeding.

Joints and Arthritis

Rheumatic diseases are those that afflict the connective tissues of the body, most commonly the joints, through immune and other disorders.

Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), osteoporosis, gout, fibromyalgia syndrome, polymyositis & dermatomyositis, vasculitis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, Wegener’s granulomatosis, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, and Sjogren’s syndrome are all rheumatic diseases monitored and treated by rheumatologists.

Osteoarthritis: is a degenerative arthritis that is the most common arthritis, and typically presents with joint pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. (Also see: "A Closer Look At: Osteoarthritis")

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): is a common form of arthritis that causes inflammation of joints and that can also affect internal organ systems. (Also see: "A Closer Look At: Rheumatoid Arthritis", includes:Multiple DMARD Therapy, Biologicals Vs. Indicated Conditions)

Gout: is an inflammatory arthritis associated with elevated uric acid levels, intra-articular crystals, and sudden onset of pain and swelling of joints. Gout can affect people in different levels of intensity and frequency, sometimes consisting of one attack and no other problems. Other people may have frequent attacks, with persistent joint pain and damage in one or more joints. In some cases, the uric acid crystals can accumulate inside the joint and within the surrounding soft tissues. These deposits are called tophi and can cause significant joint damage over the years.

Although there is no cure for gout, it can be controlled with medications and with a special diet called a low purine diet. Please see this diet within our website.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS): is a common presentation of generalized muscular body pain associated with fatigue that has several signs and symptoms common to people with this diagnosis. It is not a type of arthritis nor does it have inflammation as its significant presentation.

Ankylosing Spondylitis: is a chronic, systemic type of arthritis that affects mostly the spine and sacroileac joints. Common symptoms include back pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, uveitis, and low grade anemia. There is a genetic predisposition to this arthritis, with a positive HLA B-27 in the majority of patients. This condition is most common in males, usually with onset before age 45. About 75% of patients have back pain complaints. Treatment includes range of motion and strengthening exercises, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, patient education, and DMARD's (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) in more aggressive cases. These agents include methotrexate, azathioprine, and sulfasalazine; further studies may support the use of leflunomide, and biological agents such as the Anti-TNF agents infliximaband etanercept.

Inflammatory Myopathies - Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis: This is a group of primary diseases that present with inflammation of the muscles. The distinct classes include polymyositis and dermatomyositis, although similar muscle inflammation can also be seen as part of any of the connective tissue diseases. The term myositis means inflammation of the muscle. The prefix ‘poly’ stands for multiple muscles and ‘dermato’ is for skin involvement in the inflammatory process. These conditions are idiopathic (no direct cause is known) and not common. There are other triggers for damaging changes of the muscles that can be linked to a specific cause, such as drugs, infections, toxins, metabolic abnormalities, endocrine or neuromuscular disorders. It is important to rule out other causes so therapy can be given appropriately.Dermatomyositis also affects children, with a predilection for females, ages older than two years. In adults, these conditions can occur in young people, and skin changes may occur before the muscle weakness is noticeable. A mild arthritis that is not deforming can also be seen. Some features of dermatomyositis include:

• Skin rashes
• Edema of eyelids and above the eyelids
• Heliotrope rash - purplish discoloration of the eyelids
• Rash over knuckles, elbows, knees (Gottron's sign)
• Calcifications under the skin (more seen in children)

Other signs and symptons common to both dermatomyositis and polymyositis include:

• Proximal muscle weakness - gradual onset, often associated with pain
(For example: having to use help to get out of the toilet seat or chair; or unable to lift arms to do hair or to shampoo)
• Gastrointestinal symptom - trouble swallowing, nasal speech
• Other heart and pulmonary problems associated with weakness
• Possible underlying malignancy in adults - routine tests recommended
(PAP smears, rectal exam, mammogram, or colonoscopy as appropriate)
• Abnormally elevated muscle enzymes
• Muscle necrosis (destruction) - seen in muscle biopsy, which is usually indicated for diagnosis
• Abnormal electromyography (EMG)

Treatment consists of high dose oral corticosteroids (prednisone), with about ¾ of patients responding well to steroids alone. In the rest of the cases, immunosuppressive medications are added, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and chlorambucil. All these medications can cause side effects, they improve survival rates for the patients, because the risks of the disease outweigh the risks of the side effects.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): is an inflammatory disease that can affect joints, skin, muscles, and other internal organs. Variants of this condition include discoid lupus, drug-induced lupus, limited cutaneous LE, and mixed or overlap syndromes. (Also see: "A Closer Look At: Lupus")

Osteoporosis: is a condition that causes weakening of the bridges that keep the bones strong. These bridges are called trabeculae. Some of these bridges break microscopically and makes the bones more susceptible to fractures. The most commonly known osteoporosis is post-menopausal, in which the balance between breakdown of bone and new bone formation (remodeling) favors loss of bone. There is a precursor to osteoporosis called osteopenia. There are secondary causes of bone loss, such as use of prednisone or other corticosteroids, other drugs (heparin, high thyroid hormone replacement, phenytoin), alcoholism, low testosterone, gastrectomy, hypogonadism, hyperthyroidism, or osteogenesis imperfecta. Risk factors are:

• Increased age
• Caucasian or Oriental race
• Female
• Lack of exercise
• Family history
• Early menopause
• Thin body build
• Low dietary intake, especially of calcium rich foods
• Smoking
• Alcohol intake
• No pregnancies
• Excess protein and fiber in diet
• Lack of breast-feeding
• Excess intake of phosphate in diet (sodas)

The diagnosis of osteoporosis usually requires some basic laboratory tests. A specialized x-ray called a Bone Density Study may be helpful in the diagnosis as well as to follow up on the progress of the therapy. After the diagnosis is made, treatment includes biphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate) or calcitonin, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and hormonal replacement therapy when appropriate. Sometimes treatment is started as a preventive measure in cases of osteopenia or when the persons is at high risk for osteoporosis, such as in chronic prednisone use.

Scleroderma:Scleroderma means "hard skin" and is rare. There are two forms of this disease, 1.) Localized, and 2.) Generalized, the first one being the most common form. Generalized scleroderma is referred to medically as progressive systemic sclerosis (PSSc), and has two subtypes, a.) Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and b.) Diffuse systemic sclerosis.

Sjogren’s Syndrome: Sjogren’s syndrome is a complex of signs and symptoms that include dryness of the eyes, mouth, and skin, and inflammatory arthritis.

Raynaud's Phenomenon: This condition is seen in several connective tissue diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. This is a vasospasm or clamping down of the vessels of fingertips and toes. Cold exposure and emotional stress can trigger this reaction. The color changes with cold make the fingers or toes turn white and blue-purple. In some cases, the lack of circulation to the tissues from sustained vasospasms can cause infarction (skin death), digital scars, infections, and true gangrene. Treatment involves avoidance of injury or any triggering factors, keeping hands and feet warm and covered, and careful local care of any cut or ulcer that occurs (including antibiotics, if needed). Nifedipine, blood thinners, topical nitroglycerin paste, and other medications to improve circulation can be helpful. Smoking is very harmful for patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon, and can cause severe vasospasms.

Vasculitis: Vasculitis is a group of diseases for which the etiology is generally unknown. There is a theory that states that these vasculitides are immune-complex mediated. To support this, there is some evidence for circulating immune complexes , decrease of serum complements, and findings of immunoglobulin deposits in the tissues involved. Another theory suggests an infectious cause for these conditions, such as Hepatitis A, B and C, cytomegalovirus (CMV), human T cell lymphoma virus, human parvovirus B-19, herpes zoster, Lyme disease & HIV infection. Another possible explanation is malignancy, such as hairy cell leukemia.The classification of vasculitis is quite complex, and involves different parameters. These include vessel size, location of vessels, type of vessel involved, histologic or microscopical picture, response to medications, and specific clinical characteristics. The major vasculitic classes are as follows:

• Polyarteritis group -- systemic

- Classic polyarteritis nodosa

- Allergic granulomatosis

- Overlap

• Hypersensitivity group

- Serum sickness

- Henoch-Schonlein purpura

- Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia

- In relation to malignancies

- In relation to other primary diseases

• Wegener’s granulomatosis

• Lymphomatoid granulomatosis

• Giant cell arteritis

- Temporal arteritis

- Takayasu’s arteritis

• Miscellaneous

- Thromboangiitis obliterans

- Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome

- Behcet’s disease

- Weber-Christian disease

- Relapsing polychondritis

Therapy is tailored to each individual disease and can be quite complicated. Sometimes anti-inflammatory agents can help (NSAID’s), but in most cases prednisone or corticosteroids are needed. In Wegener’s Granulomatosis, cyclophosphamide has been instrumental in prolonging the life of patients. Other cytotoxics, such as methotrexate, cyclosporine A, and azathioprine , as well as gamma globulin can also be useful in the treatment of vasculitis.

There are medications available that can prevent and treat osteoporosis. In addition to exercise, Vitamin D, and calcium supplementation, these include biphosphonates, estrogen, calcitonin, and selective estrogen receptor modulators.

Bone mineral densitometry (BMD) studies are useful as diagnostic tools for osteoporosis and for monitoring effectivity of therapy as well as progression of disease.

There are many herbal and over-the-counter remedies that have been greatly publicized during the past decade. Some products may have a role in improving symptoms of arthritis and have been used in Europe for many years. However, scientific proof of the effectivity of these products is still in question. Some claim to “cure” arthritis, which is a very ambitious claim with no scientific data to support it. Healthy diet and exercise, as well as supplementation of calcium and vitamin D have been shown to help maintain healthy bones and improve the quality of life of people living with arthritic conditions. There are some preliminary studies regarding chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate that suggest improvement of symptoms in osteoarthritis of the knees. Please consult your physician and let them know which herbal supplements you are taking, as this could help in caring for your health as a whole. Also, please bear in mind that none of these herbal remedies or alternative therapies should be viewed as a substitute for professional medical care and scientifically proven medications.

Joint Health Guide

About 21 million adults have osteoarthritis -- the wear-and-tear condition that causes achy joints and may eventually lead to can't-get-up-from-the-sofa pain.

"A third to half of doctor visits deal with musculoskeletal issues. They're one of the most common health problems," says Sharon Kolasinski, M.D., an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Depending on risk factors, joint pain can affect anyone, though osteoarthritis mostly starts as our bodies begin to show the effects of aging.

In women, it occurs more frequently after age 50; in men, it's more likely before age 45. Also, sites of joint pain are different. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis in their hands, knees, ankles, or feet, while men are more likely to develop it in their wrists, hips, or spine.

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But just because a condition is prevalent doesn't mean it's inevitable, or that you can't do a number of things to either prevent or control it. Here are the basics of how your joints function and how to keep them moving smoothly.

There are various kinds of joints; shoulders have a ball-and-socket-type construction, while knees work more like door hinges. Still, all joints have the same basic anatomy and function: They connect one bone to another to give us the ability to bend, twist, or win dancing contests.

Inside a joint, similar features reside. There's the connective tissue -- the ligament, which essentially serves as a bridge from one bone to the other via your muscles. There's also cartilage -- a fibrous and somewhat elastic tissue that acts as a cushioning material between joints. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber to prevent bones from grinding against each other.

Osteoarthritis appears when we start to lose that cushioning, and a number of factors contribute cumulatively to the loss.

Aging: "Cartilage thins as we age," says David Felson, M.D., professor of medicine at Boston University, who specializes in bone and joint problems. "That makes it easier to damage." Over time, the surface of cartilage can change from smooth to fissured. That's when erosions in cartilage begin to appear.

Previous injuries: Seemingly minor joint injuries (an unlucky twist here or there) when you were younger can be a factor. "Even people who don't remember injuries see areas of damage with age," Felson says.

The Best Joint Health Supplement

Ultimate Joint Health Supplement

JointCare

JointCare offers a complete complex of 13 active ingredients designed to support both joint and bone health in one. JointCare also contains resveratrol for an added boost in vitality.

Why JointCare?

Unlike other leading joint supplements JointCare offers a complete complex of 13 active ingredients designed to support both joint and bone health in one. Just one packet contains 2000 mg of Glucosamine, 1000 mg of Chondroitin, and over 1800 mg of other nutrients for optimal bone and joint health including MSM, SAMe, Collagen, and Hyaluronic acid.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Cartilage is the smooth tough tissue on the ends of bones which allow your joints to glide freely, allowing movement. Glucosamine is the precursor to an important building block for joint tissue. Similarly, Chondroitin is an important structural component of cartilage and helps with resistance to compression.

JointCare combines these two vital nutrients with 11 other active ingredients providing your joints with the nutrients they need for optimal function.

Calcium and Resveratrol

JointCare also includes soluble calcium lactate and gluconate with inulin and vitamin D3 for improved calcium absorption. For an added boost, it also has the anti-aging power of resveratrol and quercetin for improved vitality.

Nourish your joints & bones with all natural and highly bioavailable JointCare.