The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7431 p740-746
16 December 2006

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Nutraceuticals for healthy joints

A wide variety of nutraceuticals have been claimed to be of benefit in joint disease, particularly in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this article, Helen Ramsbottom and Brian Lockwood review the relevant literature

SUMMARY

Joint disease is a major cause of disability in the UK, affecting people of all ages, particularly the elderly. Currently, 29 per cent of adults report being affected by arthritis or joint pain, which translates to over 13 million people. The prevalence of joint disease is higher among women, those aged over 55 and those from less affluent populations.

Most sufferers of joint disease describe their condition in terms of “joint pain” or “back pain”, with fewer reporting having a specific arthritic condition. In fact, it can sometimes be difficult to determine where joint pain ends and arthritis begins. The term arthritis and related conditions can be used to cover over 200 different complaints, of which the most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, gout and ankylosing spondylitis.

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