WEIGHT REDUCTION. The major dietary recom-mendation 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 weight-bearing joints of the body, and even a few pounds of extra weight can increase the pressure on damaged joints when 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 a modest amount of weight reduction lowers the pain level in persons with 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. 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.
- Page 65 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 the United States as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. The recommended daily dose is 300 mg.
CAM DIETARY THERAPIES. Two traditional alternative medical systems have been recommended in the treatment of OA. The first is Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India. Practitioners of Ayurveda regard OA as caused by an imbalance among the three doshas, or subtle energies, in the human body. This imbalance produces toxic byproducts during digestion, known as ama, which lodges in the joints of the body instead of being eliminated through the colon. To remove these toxins from the joints, the digestive fire, or agni, must be increased. The Ayurvedic practitioner typically recommends adding such spices as turmeric, cayenne pepper, and ginger to food, and undergoing a three-to five-day detoxification diet followed by a cleansing enema to purify the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treats OA with various compounds containing ephedra, cinnamon, aconite, and coix. A combination herbal medicine that has been used for at least 1200 years in TCM is known as Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan, or Joint Strength. Most Westerners who try TCM for relief of OA, however, seem to find acupuncture more helpful as an alternative therapy than Chinese herbal medicines.
