Galen's Watch

Grab it while you can! Osteoarthritis article.

The journal  Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is offering a free article for a brief period of time. Act fast and read it. Osteoarthritis effects an estimated 27 million Americans age 25 and older. It is the most common form of arthritis and commonly affects people as they age but can be found in young people as well. This article links several health conditions to osteoarthritis:

There is growing evidence that OA is not simply a disease related to aging or mechan- ical stress of joints but rather a “metabolic disorder” in which various interrelated lipid, metabolic, and humoral mediators contribute to the initiation and progression of the disease process. Indeed, OA has been linked not only to obesity but also to other cardiovascular risk factors, namely, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance.

Osteoarthritis: Another Component of Metabolic Syndrome?
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/met.2009.0110

For more information about osteoarthritis click here

Sabra Way MNIMH

Editor in Chief and Founder, Galen's Watch

 Galen's Watch reports on complementary and alternative medical literature that is relevant to CAM practitioners. Visit our journal watch service and see the medical journals we scan regularly.

Complementary Medicine and Arthritis.

Because I look at a lot of studies when I saw the headline Most Complementary Medicines Have No Effect For People With Rheumatoid Arthritis; Picture More Hopeful For Osteoarthritis Patients I thought what research is this? What complementary medicines were they talking about? The report was published by Arthritis Research Campaign  and the article in its entirety can be found here.

 

The report gave full marks for the effectiveness of fish oil in rheumatoid arthritis and full marks for capsaicin gel for osteoarthritis. In all 40 complementary medicine products were looked at. The review included singular botanicals, single nutrients, and combination/polyherbal products such as Eazmov, Gytadyl and  Rheumalex.  Homeopathy was briefly covered. The report only looked at products that were taken orally or applied topically. Other products that were covered were antler velvet and green lipped mussels. They do not include acupuncture or chiropractic care in their review. The report looked at only randomized controlled trials (RCT)  and is very well laid out and easy to read. They use a very succinct grading system for all products they looked at.

 

The title would have you conclude that complementary medicine is not useful in the treatment of rheumatoid or osteoarthritis ( they also looked at 4 products and fibromyalgia). However, by only looking at RCT's  that addressed individual products they have not considered the complete treatment offered by a CAM professional.  Also some of these products are mainly from the health food store market place and not likely to be used by a professional that would customize their herbal blend using herbals not even addressed here. There is also no mention of traditional use herbals or using that knowledge in the treatment of arthritis. Food sensitivity and diet is not addressed either. This report offers a quick reference guide for the 40 products covered that have RCT data.

 

Sabra Way MNIMH

Editor in Chief and Founder, Galen's Watch

 Galen's Watch reports on complementary and alternative medical literature that is relevant to CAM practitioners. Visit our journal watch service and see the medical journals we scan regularly.