Tag: Osteoarthritis

Alternative Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Claus Hancke

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

Vitamin C Soothes Pain from Osteoarthritis in 14 days

Admin

July 6, 2003

Vitamin C soothes pain from osteoarthritis in 14 days. That is the conclusion of a Danish scientific study recently published in the Danish medical magazine, Ugeskrift for Laeger.

133 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joint and knee joint were treated with one gram of vitamin C or placebo twice daily for 14 days. In those who got vitamin C there was clearly better pain relief than in the other group.

The study was made because many people have said that vitamin C has helped with their osteoarthritis.

“Our study, which have been carried out to the highest scientific standard, have shown that vitamin C reduces the pain of osteoarthritis of the hip or knee joint within 14 days,” says Niels Hertz, specialist in general medicine.

“This effect was statistically exceptionally safe and led to very clear improvements in the functioning of those with arthritis. The magnitude of the effect is equivalent to half what you normally find with arthritis pills (NSAIDs), but unlike these, the treatment with vitamin C is free of side effects and can be tolerated indefinitely.

The finding is extra interesting because other studies have shown that people with arthritis who get a lot of vitamin C do not worsen as much over time as those who get ordinary Danish average amounts. This was found a few years ago in the famous American Framingham study, a result that attracted attention at the time.

In other words, one can imagine that vitamin C not only relieves the pain of osteoarthritis, but also counteracts aggravation of arthritis!

There are many examples of this happening. A retired nurse, I know, meant for approx. 10 years ago that she could no longer avoid a hip operation. She was in so much pain. Then she started taking vitamin C and today she is still not operated on. I see her regularly on the street, without a cane and in a good mood.

Every twentieth Dane receives less than 30 mg of vitamin C a day, and very few come close to the American averages from Framingham. This is highly unfortunate for public health.

Several of the world’s leading experts in vitamin C believe that the recommended daily allowances (RDA) should be significantly increased.

Vitamin C is, in my opinion, a fantastically exciting vitamin, which most likely has several other positive surprises in it. We are far from finished exploring it, ”concludes Niels Hertz.

By: Vitality Council

Reference:
Jensen, Niels H.P. Hertz, Ugeskr Laeger 2003;165:2563-6.

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Vitamin C Gives Less Pain Suffering from Arthrosis in Hip and Knee Joint

Per Larsen

June 16, 2003

This is the conclusion of a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, cross-over multi praxis study with 133 people with X-ray verified symptomatic arthrosis in hip and knee joint.

All in all 94 knee joints and 39 hip joints were evaluated. The participants were treated with one gram of calcium ascorbate or placebo two times daily for 14 days.

A significantly better pain relief were found in the persons having arthrosis in the hip or knee joints taking calcium the ascorbate treatment than in those taking placebo.

The study was started, because many users of Vitamin C have experienced that calcium ascorbate has reduced their arthrosis pain.

Arthrosis is one of the most common reasons for disability in hips and knees. Approximately 6% of the 65 year olds Danes are suffering from arthrosis in one or two hip joints, which may lead to more than 4,000 yearly operations in total.

The pain relief effect of Vitamin C in arthrosis is explained by lessened oxidative stress as followed by the antioxidant function of the Vitamin C.

By: Per Tork Larsen, MD

Reference:
Jensen, Niels H.P. Hertz, Ugeskr Laeger 2003;165:2563-6.

www.dadlnet.dk
www.iom.dk