Osteoarthritis / seaweed supplement

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A small, double blind, placebo controlled pilot study has investigated

treatment of osteoarthritis with a natural multi-mineral seaweed supplement.

Osteoarthritis is a slow destructive process of the joint. Although the

exact biochemical cause of osteoarthritis remains unknown, the process usually

begins when the joint structures are abnormal or the stress placed on the joint

surfaces is unusually high. Osteoarthritis is expected to affect over 59

million people in the United States alone by the year 2020.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are frequently employed to provide

relief from symptoms of osteoarthritis but NSAID use is usually accompanied by

unwelcome side effects including gastrointestinal distress, ulcer formation

and cardiovascular problems.

As a result, glucosamine and other alternative treatments are being explored

as possible treatments for osteoarthritis.

Growing evidence suggests that several minerals play an important role in

joint health. Naturally occurring minerals such as magnesium, copper,

manganese, selenium and zinc have shown anti-inflammatory effects in both

animal and

human studies.

In a rat model of osteoarthritis, a deficiency of dietary magnesium

increased cartilage damage. Trace minerals such as boron and manganese have been

shown to reduce the symptoms and may slow the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Calcium supplementation has been shown to improve bone mineral density and

recent reports suggest that calcium may also play a role in ameliorating the

symptoms of osteoarthritis. For example, the administration of 1 gram of

calcium ascorbate daily for a period of 14 days to 133 patients with

osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip resulted in a significant reduction in

pain compared

to placebo.

Aquamin is a multi-mineral supplement derived from the red algae

Lithothamnion corallioides that is rich in calcium and magnesium and a variety

of trace

minerals including manganese, selenium and zinc.

This preliminary study was designed to investigate the potential for Aquamin

to allow reduced NSAID usage over three months in subjects with moderate to

severe osteoarthritis of the knee.

The results of the study showed significant improvements in passive and

active extension range of movement and 6 minute walking distance in the Aquamin

group compared to the placebo group following a 50% reduction in NSAID use,

suggesting that Aquamin increases range of motion and walking distances in

subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee and may allow partial withdrawal of

NSAIDs over 12 weeks of treatment. Additional studies of longer treatments in a

greater number of subjects are necessary to fully explore the treatment effect

of Aquamin in osteoarthritis.

References:

1. Frestedt et al. A natural seaweed derived mineral supplement (Aquamin F)

for knee osteoarthritis: A randomised, placebo controlled pilot study.

Nutrition Journal 2009, 8:7doi:10.1186/1475-2891-8-7.

2. Image by Marie-Dorothée Castets.

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