Dietary Supplement & Risks in Treating Osteoarthritis in Adults Over Age 50

As the elderly population is expected to increase significantly in the next several years, many healthcare professionals are turning to a more holistic approach to medicine. In an effort to provide a more comprehensive and "whole body" approach to healthcare, many healthcare professionals realize the full impact the aging population will have upon the healthcare services of the future.

In the treatment of many age related health complications, the use of alternative healing options have been suggested in collaboration with traditional medicine. In the case of osteoarthritis, without a cure, the management of disease progression and symptoms will be vital to the elderly population. As a condition that progresses into a decrease in mobility and a decrease in independence, many senior adults also realize the need to manage osteoarthritis in a more comprehensive approach.

In addition to Western medicine, physicians and patients are now turning to dietary supplements in the management of osteoarthritis. While using NSAIDs continues to be the leading drug of choice for osteoarthritis, this use of anti-inflammatory is now being supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin. If you suffer from osteoarthritis, or are at risk for developing osteoarthritis, it is important to know that it may take as long as six months to receive optimal therapeutic benefit.

In addition to glucosamine and chondroitin, a mixture of soybean and avocado oil may also be therapeutically beneficial, although there is much debate over this suggested use. While the use of NSAIDs can not be eliminated with avocado and soybean mixtures, this mixture may reduce the need for NSAIDs without total elimination. In addition, the use of vitamin B3 may also be important to promoting joint flexibility.

Dietary supplements can also provide no result, or even produce adverse outcomes, when managing osteoarthritis. Specifically, the use of vitamin D and vitamin E may not provide any therapeutic benefit, although they are usually in deficient levels in the osteoarthritis patient.