Alternative Treatment of Osteoarthritis

September 16, 2003

The (Danish) Arthritis Association must get their proportions right:
The association recently published a questionnaire study showing that 86% of osteoarthritis patients use alternative medicine, even if several products do not seem to have a documented effect.

For example, fish oil, which 65% of the osteoarthritis patients report using, and 62% of them are satisfied with the effect. This information the Danish arthritis association “Gigtforeningen” find surprisingly “paradoxically.”

“It is correct that there are not yet well-established clinical trials on fish oil and osteoarthritis, but data from population surveys and other studies suggest that there may be an effect,” says the chairman of the Vitality Council – specialist physician Claus Hancke.

“Among others, chief physician Pekka Helin and general practitioner Vibeke Bunch conducted a number of studies in Greenland in 1996 and 1997. They primarily examined patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but also a number of osteoarthritis patients. The researchers subsequently concluded that the patients with osteoarthritis only had little pain and the vast majority had hard physical work such as hunters or factory workers. It cannot therefore be ruled out that fish oil has an effect on osteoarthritis, even though this has not yet been documented through large clinical studies,” explains Claus Hancke.

The much-talked-about Glucosamine sulfate also started its career as a so-called “alternative”, but is today approved as a natural remedy for osteoarthritis, and has good documentation behind it. Documentation of effectiveness without side effects.

“We would very much like to support the Danish Arthritis Association’s initiative for more research into dietary supplements and natural medicines, and we would like to contribute to the dissemination of more knowledge to patients so that they use the best preparations in the correct dose. But we must also show respect for those patients who have so far felt well helped by, for example, fish oil and ginger. And patients should not be blamed for using dietary supplements as an alternative to strong painkilling arthritis medication, where it is known that the side effects are serious,” concludes Claus Hancke.
To regret this is a distortion of proportion.

By: Vitality Council

(No references)

www.gigtforeningen.dk
www.iom.dk