Before we discuss the link between osteoarthritis and diet would it surprise you to know that
osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis and the fastest growing cause of disability
worldwide? Prevalence of OA increases with age; 13.9% of adults age 25 and older have clinical OA of
at least one joint, while 33.6% of adults age 65 and older have OA. Projections indicate that by 2050
probably 130 million people will suffer with OA!
It is sometimes caused by an injury or an inherited defect in the protein that forms cartilage. More
commonly, it is a result of aging, diet and lifestyle. OA occurs when the normal, dynamic equilibrium
between the breakdown and repair of joint tissues is overwhelmed. This progressive joint failure may cause
pain, physical disability, and psychological distress, although many people with structural changes
consistent with OA are asymptomatic, and why this is the case is not known.
Anyone who has
suffered with this condition well knows that the hallmark symptom of osteoarthritis is pain. This is the
symptom that drives individuals to seek medical attention, and contributes to functional limitations and
reduced quality of life. Largely because of pain, lower extremity OA is well-recognized as the leading cause
of mobility impairment in older adults in the US.
Also called degenerative joint disease,
osteoarthritis is a chronic disease causing deterioration of the
cartilage protecting the end of the bones in the weight bearing joints
of the knees, hips, and spine, but it also commonly affects the hands
and knuckles .
Heberden nodes are bony swellings of the distal interphalangeal finger joint. Bouchard nodes are similar swellings affecting the proximal interphalangeal finger joint.
The joint pain of OA is typically described as exacerbated by activity and relieved by rest. More advanced
OA can cause rest and night pain leading to loss of sleep which further exacerbates pain.
The
major symptoms that suggest a diagnosis of OA include:
Osteoarthritis has a gradual onset and the sufferer becomes more aware of it after exercise or weight
bearing activities, and it's often relieved by rest. The joints become stiff and movement becomes painful
and grating.
X-rays will show degenerative changes. The once smooth surface of cartilage
becomes rough, resulting in friction. The cartilage begins to break down and the normally smooth sliding
surfaces of the bones become pitted and irregular.
The tendons, ligaments and muscles holding the
joint together become weaker and the joint becomes deformed, painful and stiff. There is usually some
stiffness and pain (more stiffness than pain at first) but little or no swelling. Any resulting
disability is most often minor.
However, fractures become an increasing risk because
osteoarthritis makes the bones brittle.
As osteoarthritis advances, bony outgrowths called
osteophytes tend to develop. Often referred to as "spurs", osteophytes can be detected by
x-rays and develop near degenerated cartilage in the neck or in the lower back, although this doesn't change
a person's appearance.
Osteoarthritis rarely develops before the age of forty, but it affects
nearly everyone past the age of sixty. It may be so mild that a person is unaware of it until it appears on
an x-ray. Nearly three times as many women as men have osteoarthritis.
Many studies show that among the factors contributing to the condition, diet is a major one, so there is a
strong connection between osteoarthritis and diet. The wrong type of
diet can lead to the development of several problems that, in turn, have an effect on the health of the
joints. These factors are:
It has recently been suggested that obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome can directly influence the
development of OA.
Obesity can affect the development of OA in several ways: It increases strain
on weight-bearing joints and, as a consequence, overweight and obese individuals are at considerably
higher risk of developing OA particularly in the knee.
An association of higher BMI with the development of hand OA demonstrates an additional non-biomechanical
role of obesity in OA.
Also, obesity leads to low-grade systemic inflammation and weight
reduction can reduce adipose tissue and restore normal secretion patterns. Leptin, generally
elevated in obesity, is produced by white adipose tissue, and is associated with inflammation and cartilage
degradation. The picure below summarizes the mechanisms
linking obesity to OA pathogenesis.
Obesity is the one modifiable risk factor for OA at least
partly due to its association with inflammation. So finding the right diet can help you lose weight, if
indeed you are overweight, and can have an impact on all the other risk factors as well.
Many studies prove the link between osteoarthritis and diet, and some are listed below in the References.
But in this website, you will find all the information you need to help you select the best foods that can help you reduce and even revert the symptoms of OA.
You can start with finding out all the foods that can reduce inflammation...
...and here are some supplements that can also help.
Also, see how the right diet can help in the prevention and tretment of diabetes and hypertension.
Causes of Arthritis and Joint Pain
Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Delivers 750mg vegetarian Glucosamine Hydrochloride per capsule. It is an important building block for cartilage tissue, a structural component within the skeleton that forms part of the connective tissues in joints between the bones such as the elbows, knees and ankles. |
Delivers a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride, horsetail extract, MSM, boron and niacin, alongside manganese, which contributes to the normal formation of connective tissue.
Delivers 750mg vegetarian Glucosamine Hydrochloride per capsule. It is an important building block for cartilage tissue, a structural component within the skeleton that forms part of the connective tissues in joints between the bones such as the elbows, knees and ankles.
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