THE STATS

Arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability in the United States. Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions, with the most common being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout. According to CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which provides the main source of state arthritis data, 49 million American adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis and another 21 million reported chronic joint symptoms (CJS) in 2001. The number of people age 65 and older who have arthritis or chronic joint symptoms is projected to nearly double from 21.4 million in 2001 to 41.4 million in 2030 as the population ages. Older adults 65 years of age or older have the highest risk of arthritis (58.8 percent), but two-thirds of all people with arthritis are younger than age 65. Arthritis was noticeably higher for women (37.3 percent) than for men (28.4 percent). Arthritis is estimated to cost $51 billion in medical costs and $86 billion in total costs.

Typical signs and symptoms of joint dysfunction:

• Morning joint stiffness is often the first symptom
• Joint pain (often a deep, aching pain) that is worsened by movement and improved with rest (in more severe cases, a person may experience constant pain)
• Stiffness after being inactive for more than 15 minutes
• Joint swelling
• Joints that are warm to the touch (more common in rheumatoid arthritis)
• Pain and stiffness in the morning
• Crunching or crackling noise when the joint moves
• Limited range of motion
• Muscle weakness
• Abnormal growth of bony knobs near joints causing deformities (such as Heberden's nodes, in which bumps appear on the outermost finger joints)

In the recent past, arthritis was considered a "wear and tear" type degenerative disorder. The arthritic joints were considered metabolically inactive and the arrest or reversal of this condition was regarded as impossible. The latest research, however, has indicated the joint cartilage in individuals with osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis), is very metabolically active. Furthermore, there is evidence that reversal of this disease has occurred in some individuals.

For the most part, it is not always clear what initiates the damage and loss of cartilage but there are some risk factors which have been associated with arthritis. As the statistics indicate, increasing age plays a part in the eventual development of cartilage damage as the repair mechanisms slow down in the elderly. Other risk factors such as genetic predisposition, obesity, and joint injury have also been associated with the cause of arthritis. None of these risk factors mean, although, that you have to suffer from the pain of arthritis.

Conventional pharmacological treatment of arthritis consists primarily of nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics. With their significant list of serious side effects, these medications are far from ideal therapeutic agents. In addition to peptic ulcers and hepatic or renal damage, NSAIDs may actually accelerate joint destruction! Since these medications pop on and off the market as often as weight loss drugs, there are other therapies to consider that will still be on the market at least two years from now.

The following substances are naturally occurring in the body (with the exception of a botanical extract) and have an excellent track record for efficacy in treating arthritis. Glucosamine is one that most of us have heard about by now. In particular, Glucosamine HCl is a vegan-friendly non-shellfish derived form of glucosamine that has a 98% absorption profile. Glucosamine, which is produced in the body, is a precursor molecule in the synthesis of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These proteins are the structural components of cartilage ­ the shock absorber that gives our joints strength and resilience. Glucosamine has demonstrated in a number of clinical trials to decrease articular pain, decrease joint tenderness, decrease swelling, and improve range of motion to a significant degree.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) contains sulfur that can be utilized by the body in the formation of connective tissue, such as articular cartilage. Arthritic joints have been found to be low in both sulfur and cysteine. N-acetlycysteine (NAC) is a derivative of the sulfer-containing amino acid cysteine. Oral administration of NAC leads to an increase in intracellular cysteine and glutathione levels. These substances are powerful antioxidant free radical scavengers that help to decrease the production of inflammatory chemicals in the connective tissues.

A patented extract of hops called IsoOxygene™ is a powerful anti-inflammatory substance that works as a natural cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor. Unlike its pharmaceutical counterparts that have experienced a lot of bad press in various media, IsoOxygene does not have any adverse side effects and it will not be pulled from the market any time soon.

Finally, zinc, copper, and manganese are precursors to superoxide dismutase (SOD). Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis have been shown to deplete tissues of SOD by the overproduction of oxygen radicals. Uncontrolled production of oxygen radicals can lead to the development of inflammatory processes and ultimately chronic, degenerative disease.

A comprehensive joint support product called Joint Renew™ contains the above ingredients in the therapeutic proportions that provide the building blocks for joint repair while inhibiting the inflammatory cascade.

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