No one wants to wake up in the morning with stiff, achy joints; but the reality is that twenty-one million people live with the stiffness and pain of osteoarthritis every day of their lives. Because of the side effects of anti-inflammatory medications, some people turn to natural alternatives for relief of painful osteoarthritis. One of the most commonly used natural treatments is glucosamine. Glucosamine for osteoarthritis is a natural supplement found in many health food stores that helps to rebuild cartilage damaged by the ravages of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, not everyone experiences relief from taking glucosamine and studies have shown mixed results. Now, new research suggests that combining glucosamine with omega-3 fatty acids may be a more effective treatment than using glucosamine alone for osteoarthritis pain
Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis: Better Results with Omega-3’s?
In this study, published in the journal Advances in Therapy, researchers gave 177 volunteers with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the hips or knees a glucosamine sulfate supplement or glucosamine plus omega-3 fatty acids for twenty-six weeks. At the end of this period, the participants were given tests to determine their degree of pain. The researchers found that the participants who took the combination of glucosamine and omega-3’s had less painful osteoarthritis symptoms and experienced reduced early morning stiffness.
Why Do Omega-3’s Help the Pain of Osteoarthritis? Read more…
