Nutritional Tidbits

Yesterday we wrote about glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate being the  building blocks for making and repairing cartilage. There are a variety of supplements  that  you can use to help as well. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is heavily concentrated in three areas of the body. The vitreous body in the back of the eye is largely hyaluronic acid. It is present in skin, and is responsible for the soft, thick appearance of youthful skin. It is also present in joints, and is here  responsible for lubrication necessary for comfortable movement. While it is a large molecule, good studies  have shown that it is absorbed orally. To be effective, it needs to be taken three times a day, with meals. Hyaluronic acid is also especially good for Rheumatoid arthritis patients.
MSM is another supplement useful for joint health (it is also good for asthma, even status asthmaticus). I have heard patients say that MSM did not work for them. Dosage is very important here. You can’t  get enough MSM in capsules or pills. I recommend powdered Raspberry-flavored MSM from Designs for Health. Start with a teaspoon daily, then increase to 2 to 3 teaspoons weekly according to symptoms. If no results, continue to increase to 1, 2 or even three tablespoons (divided doses with meals.).

We were reading an article in the paper the other day written by an Orthopedist stating that supplements for joints did not good at all. Well, I respectively disagree. I will agree that supplements taken in insufficient amounts will not help. When asked, “How much of this supplement should I take?” The answer is, It depends.” To prevent a condition, perhaps only a small amount of a given nutrient is needed. To treat a minor condition, more is required, and to treat a major condition, much more is required. So, how do you proceed? Start with a capsule daily for a week. If no results, double it. If still no results, double it again. If your condition is severe, remember that you did not get to this situation overnight. It may take some time before you begin to see improvements.
Let’s talk specifically about supplements for osteoarthritis, or what is called “wear and tear” arthritis. What wears is the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. X-rays clearly tell the story of narrowing of the joint space. Clearly, cartilage is not being replaced as  fast as it is being worn away. Our bodies use two very unusual amino acids to build cartilage, glucosamine and chondroitin  sulfate. When we starve ourselves of these two building  blocks, cartilage thins to the point that bone is exposed, causing pain on movement of the joint.
These two amino acids are found naturally in gelatin. Jello was a  common dessert when I was  young.
Today it is thought of as hospital food. Powdered gelatin, as found in Nutri-Joint, is a good supplement. You can also get glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate as capsules. Even if you do not have arthritis and are over 55, taking gelatin and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate as a preventative is a very good idea. There are lots of other supplements beneficial to joints that I will talk about next.