Joint
Care and Repair
This is the transcript of a tape produced by nutritionist Joe Buishas. Toward
the end of the tape Mr. Buishas makes a specific product recommendation. We
have left the transcript unchanged—complete with the product recommendation.
This is such a good explanation of joint care and repair that it should be
presented in its entirety. The products Mr. Buishas mentions are very good, but
there are many other fine glucosamine and chondroitan products. Copies of the
tape (or CD are available)
Almost all people over the age of forty have some pathological changes in the
weight-bearing joints. The Merck Manualof Diagnosis and Therapy goes on
to state that osteoarthritis becomes universal by age 70. Over 22 million
people spend over 20 billion dollars each year to relieve their pain and
suffering. Knees, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, ankles, bones in the
feet, and over 200 bone surfaces in the back are all prey to degenerative
changes in the joints. Clearly this is a huge problem and yet there are many
things we can do to prevent and even reverse osteoarthritis.
Hi, my name is Joe Buishas. As a licensed clinical nutritionist and a
nutritional practitioner for over 20 years, I have seen both
sides, the pain and the recovery of this degenerating condition. When we
talk about osteoarthritis what we are really talking about are the degenerative
changes to the cartilage in the joints.
To maintain healthy mobility, our goal is to have healthy
cartilage. Dr. Jason Theodosakis described this process in his book, The Arthritis
Cure. To get an idea of how cartilage works, imaging rubbing together two
perfectly flat, slightly wet ice cubes. They glide across each other, quickly
and easily, never catching or slowing. Now imagine a surface that is five to
eight times more slippery than ice. That’s your cartilage, the material to make
it possible for the ends of your bones to slide smoothly and easily across each
other. No man made substance compares to the low-friction and shock absorbing
properties of healthy cartilage
The Makeup of Cartilage
What is cartilage? Cartilage is composed of four
components: Water, collagen, proteoglycans, and chondrocytes. The primary
ingredient in cartilage is water. In fact, 65% to 85% of cartilage is water.
Water is attracted into cartilage by an ingredient called chondroitan sulfate.
Chondroitan sulfate has the ability to bind up to 100 times its weight in
water. Imagine a sponge full of water versus a sponge that is dry and parched.
The sponge with water has greater resiliency and spring, almost like a mini
shock absorber. The dry sponge, on the other hand, when it is bumped or jarred
will pass the impact on to whatever is beside it. Our goal is to maintain
healthy joints, and it can never be accomplished if we are not properly
hydrated.
Dr. Bhatman Geldi in his book, Your Body’s Many Cries
for Water, describes many conditions which can be cured by
drinking water alone. He shares the mechanisms by which many cases of stomach
problems, excess cholesterol, depression, angina and other heart conditions,
asthma, allergies, neck pain, back pain, headaches, hypertension as well as
other conditions have been successfully treated by water alone. He shares in
his book that we are constantly consuming liquid diuretics such as pop, coffee,
tea, alcoholic beverages, and even fruit juices which force the body to use up
its stored resources. Our bodies must dilute some of these toxins or sugars and
as a result some of the storage areas for water are depleted.
As we’ll see later in this tape, chondroitan sulfates and
associated co-factors play a major role in regenerating healthy cartilage. But
unless a person is properly hydrated, they can never achieve the goal of
attaining and maintaining healthy cartilage. A good rule of thumb is to take
your weight, divide it by two and consume that number in ounces of water each
day. For example, a 200 pound man should try to drink 100 ounces of water each
day. Obviously, the liquid diuretics mentioned previously should be minimized.
The second ingredient in cartilage is collagen. Collagen
is a protein used to make tendons, skin, bones and even the clear membranes of
the cornea. It is the most abundant protein in our body, making up
approximately 6% of our body weight. Collagen has been called the glue that
holds the cartilage matrix together. It may appear as a single, hair-like
strand, or maybe braided together like rope, giving it incredible strength and
flexibility. A word-picture that may help understand the value of collagen
would be to compare it to the steel in buildings to which the bricks, wood
mortar, windows and doors are attached. These building materials must attach
themselves to something to stay in place. The same is true of collagen and its
structural role in our bodies. Collagen is very difficult for humans to digest
and therefore cannot be provided in supplemental form. However we can supply
the cofactors or precursors necessary to make collagen. As long a good supply
of amino acids, which come from protein, vitamin C, copper, iron, and manganese
are present our bodies will continue to make the necessary collagen.
The next category in cartilage is called proteoglycans.
That’s a big word. Proteoglycans: proteo stands for protein; glyco is a term
used to describe long structural sugars. Imagine a bottle brush, with the stem
of the brush being protein to give it strength and the bristles being the
structural sugars. Proteoglycans, or little round
bottle brush structures are woven around and through collagen fibers, forming a
dense netting inside the cartilage. Proteoglycans act like a thirsty sponge
attracting water and providing a cushion or shock-absorber for the cartilage.
Remember the bristles on the bottle brush? They are really long structural
sugars and are called “GAGS”, glyco-amino glycans. The most important and the
most abundant ones are called chondroitan sulfates. The chondroitan sulfates
are the part of the proteoglycan that attracts water and acts like a sponge.
The body makes chondroitan sulfates very slowly. This is
partly due to the poor circulation to the joints, and precisely why proper
exercise is so important. The turnover time for the body to make 50% of the
glycol-amino glycans in the cartilage is about 1.5 years. Things move very
slowly in the life of cartilage.
If we were to look at cartilage through a microscope, you
would see sprinkled inside the cartilage matrix tiny cells, called
chondrocytes. Chondrocytes represent the fourth major category in cartilage.
Looking at a picture of cartilage, they almost appear like pepper. Chondrocytes
make up 5% of the cartilage. They are the factories that manufacture the new
collagen and proteoglycan molecules. These cells also have the responsibility
of tearing down the old cartilage as they rebuild the new. To perform this
task, they secrete enzymes to break down cartilage. What happens if, during the
rebuilding process they do not receive key ingredients? What happens if you are
baking a cake, and you realize that you do not have enough eggs? The baking
process slows or stops. If you have to wait long enough for the ingredients,
you may decide to use alternative ingredients and make an inferior cake,
without the eggs. Our analogy may be crude, but you can see how years of
borderline deficiencies of key nutrients can result in poor cartilage construction
and can produce problems in flexibility and mobility.
Add to slow cartilage production, the continuation of the
cartilage “chewing” enzymes and it’s easy to see how degeneration takes place.
Our goal is to make sure that the chondrocytes have the nutrients they need to
produce healthy cartilage.
Before we look at the nutrients to make healthy
cartilage, let’s look at the manner in which osteoarthitis is usually treated.
The current treatment approach of traditional medicine is a reduction of pain
and stiffness. Analgesics, or non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are most commonly prescribed. Although NSAIDS
have a definite effect in pain reduction, a percentage of patients have severe
gastrointestinal problems after prolonged intake. Some NSAIDS, particularly
aspirin can actually destroy cartilage and block its repair.
Pain Medication, a Flawed
Solution
In the July 23, 1996 Archives of Internal Medicine,
it states that in nearly 2,000 arthritic patients studied, ulcer risk increased
10-fold. It also stated that almost 25% of NSAID users have ulcers, most of
which are without symptoms.
Even more shocking is the fact the NSAIDS slow or inhibit
the chondrocytes. Chondorcytes make collagen and proteoglycans (especially
chondroitan sulfates). NSAIDS work in terms of pain reduction, but they can
make the condition worse over a prolonged period of time. They should be used
cautiously. Our goal is to get to the cause of the problem and, according to
European researchers, reverse the degeneration.
Protecting and Repairing Cartilage
I’d like to introduce a term that you’ll be hearing more
about in the upcoming years as mainstream medicine begins to look at nutrition
in joint repair. The term is chondro protection. The word “chondro” means joint
or cartilage. So a chondro protective agent is an agent that protects existing
cartilage and encourages repair.
One of the most important (chondro protective agents) is
chondroitan sulfate. Multiple studies in Europe and the United States have
shown that chondro protective agents make a difference. Let’s look at why they
may work. Chondrocytes are the cells that make proteoglycans and the cells that
make the cartilage “chewing” enzymes. If, because of injury or stress, the chondrocytes
make more of the cartilage “chewing” enzymes, the cartilage is being destroyed
faster than it is being rebuilt or replenished. By adding additional
chondroitan sulfate in the joint space where these enzymes are present, free or
added chondroitan sulfate can “take the hit” or become denatured. The
chodroitan sulfate protects existing cartilage for premature breakdown by
inhibiting the action of certain cartilage “chewing” enzymes.
Some people feel the result of chondro protective agents
quickly, and this can be one of the reasons. One of my friends is a farmer and
he couldn’t get off of his tractor without excruciating pain. After two days of
taking 1200 mg. of purified chondroitan sulfate, he could get up and down
without pain. Cartilage builds very slowly; there’s no way he could have
received relief so fast by the creation of new cartilage. But the pain and
swelling of the existing cartilage could be reduced. Our goal is to feed the
body, to create new cartilage, but we would also like to protect what is
already present.
We’ve already mentioned that chondroitan sulfates act as
shock absorbers. Due to the sulfate part of the molecule, chondroitan sulfate
can absorb water up to 100 times its weight. We used the analogy earlier, that
with proper hydration, the chondroitan sulfates act like a sponge, a cushion or
a shock absorber. Here’s another picture that may bring the point across. If
you own a waterbed and it’s filled to its capacity, and you fall face-first
into the sheets, you will experience relief. You may have fallen four feet, if
you’re six feet tall, and yet you experience no pain. What would happen if
someone were to drain your waterbed while you were at work, and you came home
at night and fell face-first into your soft sheets? That would notbe a
pleasant experience. Without the water, you would experience intense pain.
As we age, chondroitan sulfates are replaced by another
type of glyco-amino glycan, called keratin sulfate. It does not have the
ability to absorb water the way chondroitan sulfate does. Therefore the degree
or quality of cushion we have become accustomed to is
no longer present. Small bumps and bruises become a big event; whereas 20 years
ago they were no big deal.
Can Supplementation Help? Studies Say Yes
The good news is that through supplementation, we can
increase the quality of the glyco-amino glycans, and increase the body’s
ability to make and use chondroitan sulfate. The bad news is that it takes
time. In an era where so many side-effects are present with pharmaceutical
agents, the question of long-term safety should be a concern with any
supplement we ingest. Good news on the chondroitan sulfate. Dr. Lester
Morrison, in a six-year study, using purified chondroitan sulfate, at 1000-1500
mg. per day, showed profound changes in a six-year study involving 120 patients
with documented arteriosclerosis. Positive changes, let’s look at the study
briefly. The most important area of concern was the survival rates. The people
in the study had documented hardening of the arteries. All of the patients
underwent standard cardiac therapies, the one exception being the addition of
purified chondroitan sulfates daily. Here are some statistics: In the purified
chondroitan sulfate group, four out of 60, or 7% had died, which means the 93%
lived. In the control group, which had received standard cardiac therapies, 13
out of 60, or 23% had died; which means that 77% had lived. But let’s look
closer at the survivors and see how they fared. In terms of non-fatal
hospitalizations, six out of 60 (of the chondroitan sulfate group) had problems
that required hospitalization—that’s 10%. In the control group, however, 42 out
of 60 had to be hospitalized with further heart attacks, strokes, or other
cardiovascular complications. We also saw a reduction in serum cholesterol
levels from 10% to 20% (in the chondroitan sulfate group), especially the LDL
cholesterol. Serum triglycerides were reduced.
Dr. Morrison, in other research with lab animals, has
actually shown arterial healing taking place with purified chondroitan
sulfates; with some cases of reversing arteriosclerosis in monkeys. Imagine
taking a product for your joints and your arteries become more flexible.
Studies of this show the safety of long term use of purified chondroitan
sulfates, and how oral levels of purified chondroitan sulfates can be absorbed
and utilized by the body.
Another example of a chondro protective agent is
glucosamine. Glucosamine is manufactured by the chondrocytes. Glucosamine is
necessary to manufacture chondroitan sulfates. Glucosamine is necessary to make
collagen. Glucosamine is also necessary to make the backbone of the
proteoglycans—remember the bottle brushes?
The backbone of the proteoglycan molecule is called
hyaluronin. Let’s take the handle of our bottle brush and stick 20 or 30 on a
long protein molecule. The protein molecule, or
stem-like structure is called hyaluronin. Your doctor can suggest further
reading if you wish to know intricacies. But for our discussion, glucosamine
feeds or primes the chondrocytes to make materials for healthy cartilage.
Remember the chondrocytes create cartilage, building
materials (namely glucosamie) and cartilage “chewing” enzymes. By supplementing
additional glucosamine, new research suggests that chondrocytes will switch
back toward cartilage repair mode.
A Few Words about the
Quality of Joint-Repair Supplements
Let’s look at how some of these chondro protective agents
are made, and what makes them unique. Chondroitan sulfates currently come from
bovine trachea and from shark cartilage. Bovine trachea is intertwined with
collagen, so that only 20% to 30% of bovine trachea is actually chondroitan
sulfates. Because of the collagen, only 5% to 20% of that 20% to 30% is going
to be digested and absorbed. Shark cartilage is approximately the same with 15%
to 20% of shark cartilage being chondroitan sulfates. It’s a more expensive
product, and it is not as readily available. Shark cartilage also has problems
with contamination, some studies showing high mercury exposure.
Purified chondroitan sulfate, on the other hand, is a
process where the beef trachea is pre-digested in a series of steps to remove
the collagen and to purify or isolate the chondroitan sulfates. Purified
chondroitan sulfate is 90% chondroitan sulfate, and according to Dr. Lester
Morrison and Dr. Muirata, 90% is absorbed.
Let’s take a look at glucosamine hydrochloride and some
of its sources. Chitin, or the shells of crabs and
shrimp can be hydrolyzed with various acids. The result is glucosamine
hydrochloride. Take glucosamine and add sulfuric acid and we have glucosamine
sulfate. As salts, glucosamine hydrochloride and its cousin, glucosamine
sulfate, dissociate or break down in the stomach. Most of the American studies
have been done with glucosamine hydrochloride. Many researchers believe that
the sulfate portion of the glucosamine sulfate molecule is important to human
metabolism, which indirectly affects cartilage synthesis and repair. We know
that it is extremely valuable in liver detoxification, and helps to detoxify
and bind unwanted minerals or metals. Your physician will be able to help you
with the decision about which form would be best for you.
Unfortunately there is a dark side to this story. A
rather shocking analysis was published in the June, 2000 in the Journal of
the American Neutraceutical Association. It compared actual bottle contents
of glucosamine and/or chondroitan sulfate products against label claims. The
report found that of 14 glucosamine label claims analyzed, only six fully met label
claims, with deviations ranging as low as 25% of label claims. Even more
disturbing was that the report also analyzed chondroitan sulfate label claims,
using the titration method and found that a shocking 26 or 32 products failed
to meed even 90% of label claims. More than half of all the products tested
contained less than 40% of label claims, and that 14 or 32 products tested had
only 10% or less of label claims of chondroitan sulfate. 84% of brands tested
are inferior products. That’s an embarrassing statistic to the natural foods
industry.
The article goes on to state that because chondroitan
sulfates are large molecules, bioavailability has also been in question.
Interestingly enough, the same study that analyzed intestinal transport or
permeability of several marked sources of chondroitan sulfate. It appears from
this study that some chondroitan sulfate material was absorbable and that
others demonstrated little or no permeability, even though they were all
labeled as chondroitan sulfate. It appears that lower molecular weight
chondroitan sulfate is absorbable while those containing a higher molecular
weight are in question.
Earlier I mentioned the cardiovascular work of Dr.
Morrison and his six-year study. This study as well as other
studies performed by Dr. Morrison and his colleagues show that purified
chondroitan sulfates are well absorbed and have produced admirable
cardiovascular protection. This same study noted a relationship between cost
and available chondroitan sulfate. The literature suggests that the daily dose
of unpurified chondroitan sulfate is 1200 mg. per day. Of the six products
tested, those under a dollar per day, or $31 for a month’s supply did not even
have 10% of label claims (or 120 mg.). Another 10 products tested in the $1.25
to $4 range contained less than 30% of the label claims.
It is clear that glucosamine and chondroitan sulfates
have their place in respect to joint health and repair. It’s also clear that
label claims for these neutraceuticals are highly questionable. One would think
that if a product says on a label that it contains a particular ingredient that
it does, in fact, have that ingredient. Unfortunately that is not always the
case.
Other studies in the past have shown that enzymes and
vitamins have varied from label claims. Coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, and superoxide
dismutase, have all shown label claim discrepancy. It’s also suggested that
patients stay with products from companies with the absolute highest quality
standards.
Your health care provider is aware of these practices and
investigates for you which products meet their label claims and which ones can
be utilized for your body. A carpentry nail is a good source of iron; however a
ground up piece of nail is not going to be a very good source of iron for your
body. Ideally nutrients should be in a form that your body can utilize without
having to expend too much energy converting it to a form that your body can
use.
As one searches for the best product, for the best price,
it is important to compare apples with apples and not watermelons. Labeling
practices vary from company to company. Products sold through physicians’
offices are usually labeled using elemental levels of the nutrient desired.
Many companies list what they believe to be truthful amounts of glucosamine
hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate on their labels. To the average consumer,
they are not aware that the elemental weight of glucosamine is different from
the weight of the entire compound. For example, 1,200 mg. of glucosamine hydrochloride
yields approximately 1,000 mg. of glucosamine. 1,200 mg. of glucosamine sulfate
yields approximately 600 mg. of glucosamine. The discerning physician will take
these levels into account as he or she makes recommendations. The average
consumer is not aware of these distracting label inconsistencies.
Beyond Glucosamine and Chondroitan Sulfate:
Nutrients that Benefit the Arthritis Patient
We’ve discussed the role of purified chondroitan sulfates
and glucosamine as chondro protective agents, and how to provide the best
sources. However, these are not the only nutrients that can have a therapeutic
value. Let’s look at some of the cofactors needed to make healthy cartilage and
joints. A cofactor is an ingredient that is relatively insignificant in terms
of the volume of a reaction, yet without its presence the reaction or synthesis
cannot take place. Cofactors can be compared to spices in meal preparation. In
terms of the volume of the meal, the spices are insignificant, but without them
the food can be very boring and unappetizing.
One such cofactor is vitamin C. Vitamin C was isolated in
the synovial fluid of people with rheumatoid arthritis, and much to the
researchers’ surprise, they found that 80% of the vitamin C has already
oxidized. For vitamin C to be utilized as an antioxidant, it has to be in a
reduced form (in other words, not oxidized). In fact, with healthy patients or
healthy people, 80% of vitamin C is reduced, with only 20% being already
oxidized. The exact opposite is true with rheumatoid arthritic patients,
showing that free radical damage is taking place within the joint. Vitamin C
should always be accompanied by bioflavonoids and used in the ascorbate form.
Another essential cofactor for the synthesis of collagen
and chondroitan sulfates is manganese. Studies have shown that as we age the
amount of manganese in our cartilage decreases. Manganese is not only critical
for healthy cartilage production, but is also essential for bone health, and
may play a serious role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Retarded bone
growth, tendon problems, Osgood Schlatter’s and Lupus may all benefit from
manganese supplementation. The essential daily requirement for manganese is 2.5
to 5 mg. per day. This means that the average American is marginally deficient.
Turning to silicon, silicon supplemented animals have
been shown to have a greater proportion of articular cartilage. The silicon
content of many tissues has been shown to decline with age. I found it
interesting to discover that the silicon content of normal human arteries is as
much as 10 times higher in silicon than arteriosclerotic arteries. A lack of
bioavailable silicon in the diet has been postulated to be a causative factor
in the development of cardiovascular disease. Klaus Schwartz, published in the Lancet,
“The Silicon Connection”, that silicon acts as a
cross-linking agent, of the ground matrix found in cartilage and connective
tissue. Silicon is found bound to chondroitan sulfate in connective tissue
forming oxygen-silicon-oxygen bridges. These bridges contribute to the
architectural strength of connective tissue in membranes.
Still another cofactor is MSM. MSM is a sulfur compound
shown to bind or chelate heavy metals. Clinical feedback from physicians from
across the country has shown that when chondroitan sulfates or glucosamine have
not been effective, the addition of MSM has made a difference in mobility and
pain reduction. Another study shows that the sulfur content in the fingernails
is lower than that of healthy controls.
Another cofactor is pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5.
In a group of 77 people with osteoarthritis, the daily intake of pantothenic
acid was 80% of the RDA. Please note that many physicians and nutritionists
think that the RDA is seriously low for many nutrients. The RDA is what is
needed to prevent disease; it does not reflect what is needed to produce
optimal health. Also, rats made acutely deficient in pantothenic acid develop
joint changes similar to those of osteorarthosis.
Still another pair of cofactors are
folic acid and B12, two nutrients that are commonly deficient world
wide, especially in the elderly. This is partly due to the high amount of fast
and convenience foods coupled with the consumption of a multitude of drugs like
oral contraceptives, aspirin, antacids etc. This pair of nutrients is essential
for cell growth and division. A double-blind crossover study showed B12 and
folic acid to be more effective than non-steroidal anti-inflammatories in pain
reduction and grip strength.
Still another cofactor is superoxide dismutase.
Superoxide dismutase is one of the most prevalent enzymes in our bodies, and a
potent antioxidant. It has been shown to be deficient in some arthritics.
A Few Words about Biotics Research
Biotics Research Corporation, one of the leaders in the field of nutritional
supplementation, and a pioneer in cartilage repair products, has developed
several products for your doctor to choose from as he or she assists your
repair process. Chondrosamine Plus or Chondrosamine PlusS both contain the
purified chondroitan sulfate, glucosamine, and the cofactors described above to
feed your body the nutrients it needs for maximum joint health and repair.
Chondrosamine Plus has glucosamnie hydrochloride as its base; Chondrosamine Plus S has glucosamine sulfate as its base. Your doctor may
also suggest that you try a form of purified chondroitan sulfate once pain and
repair criteria have been satisfied. Because Biotics only uses purified
chondroitan sulfates and not powdered bovine trachea, the use of the purified
chondroitan sulfate is more cost-effective and well-tolerated by the digestive
tract. The purified chondroitan sulfate will not only improve regular joint
repair, but can have significant effects on the cardiovascular system as well.
The research discussed earlier by Dr. Morrison was performed using purified
chondroitan sulfates.
Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
I would be neglectful to discuss nutritional
supplementation without discussing dietary changes. Nutritional supplements are
just that—supplements to a good diet.
There
are some things that you can do to increase your joint health from a food
perspective. First of all, you need to increase sulfur-containing foods; eat
foods like onions, garlic, slow-cooked beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.
We want to decrease sugar content. The average American eats over 170 pounds of
sugar according to USDA statistics. These empty calories place a tremendous
stress on the body, causing vitamin and mineral depletions; they place added
stress on the blood sugar mechanisms of the body, especially the adrenal
glands. We also want to eat whole foods, versus processed foods. Eat whole
grained bread versus white bread. Eat brown rice versus white rice. Eat the
orange or the apple, don’t drink the juice. You want to eat foods that will rot
and spoil, but eat them before they do. Bacteria and mold are not deceived by
Madison Avenue type marketing. Eat food that will sustain life. We eat food
because it looks good, tastes good, or is convenient. Food that will rot and
spoil will sustain life. Just make sure that you eat it before it spoils. On
the same lines, move towards a cave man type diet. A cave man diet is a diet
without bottles, cans, packages, boxes, or wrappers. The idea is to eat as if
we didn’t eat all of the convenience foods of today. Eat simply and eat fresh.
The Role of Free Radicals and Antioxidants
in Joint Care
There’s another area of concern when we talk about cartilage care and repair.
Certain white blood cells will secrete free radicals and enzymes that will
degrade the synovial fluid. Free radicals will destabilize molecules, which
will destabilize cells and ultimately destabilize tissues. If the tissue is
heart tissue, we have heart disease. If the tissue is cartilage, we have
inflammation and joint pain. One free radical molecule, if left unchecked can
destabilize a million other molecules before it stops. Free radicals are like
raging fires causing destruction wherever they are found.
The body manufactures and stores many substances called antioxidants, to combat
free radical damage. Antioxidants slow or eliminate the damage done by free
radicals. Many of the progressive theories of anti aging, especially in the
prevention and treatment of cancer and cardiovascular disease, center around
the elimination of external free radicals, and increasing antioxidants, both in
our diet and supplementaly. Antioxidants protect us from the environmental
toxins, as well as the toxins and free radicals that are generated by daily,
healthy metabolism.
Let’s look at a specific example pertaining to rheumatoid arthritis. Human
synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis have
been shown to be deficient, or in some cases void in one of the key
antioxidants, the antioxidant enzyme super oxide dismutase. Super oxide
dismutase was completely missing in some patients. Antioxidants put out the
free radical fires in the joints’ synovial fluid. What would we expect of
someone void of antioxidant enzymes in their joint space; hot swollen joints?
How do patients with rheumatoid arthritis describe their joints? Hot and swollen. Antioxidants alone will not cure rheumatoid
arthritis. It is a complicated condition that can be caused by many conditions.
But the point of discussion is that antioxidants can be a powerful adjunct as
we develop and maintain healthy cartilage.
Where can we find antioxidants in nature? Look for foods with color, like
tomatoes, carrots, all the dark or purple berries. Our dinner plates should
have oranges, purples, yellows from squash, and dark green leafy vegetables of
all types. Examples of specific antioxidants would be vitamin antioxidants.
Vitamin A and its cousin, beta carotene, vitamins C and E, mineral antioxidants
such as selenium and zinc, amino acid antioxidants such as taurine, methionine
and n-acetyl cystine, and enzymes with antioxidant properties like glutathione
and superoxide dismutase, catalase and coenzyme Q. Biotics Research makes an
excellent product fulfilling the above suggestions in a product called
BioProtect.
Fats, Oils and Pain Modulation
Let’s change subjects for a minute and talk about another concept called pain
modulation. The word “modulate” means to turn up or down. Whether we know it or
not, we can turn up or down our body’s ability to perceive and experience pain
by the food we eat. If we bombard our bodies with the wrong fats or oils, we’ll
put ourselves in what I call a hyper pain state, which simply means a slight
injury or stress will cause pain—lots of pain. Many of the patients I see are
eating diets that promote inflammation and pain.
Our goal should be to eat healthy oils, necessary to make enzymes, antibodies,
and hormones and to decrease partially hydrogenated oils in our diet. Your
doctor can help you to assess which oils are best for you. One of my favorites
is called Mixed Essential Fatty Acids, by Biotics Research Corporation. It
contains the omega threes, sixes and nines in a balanced ratio. Your doctor may
also choose to support your body’s natural enzymes by adding additional
proteolytic enzymes. We can cut recovery time by as much as 50%. Intenzyme
Forte has been valuable for injury repair and to reduce short-term
inflammation. Bioflavonoids are potent antioxidants and have been recently
shown to have an effect with long term inflammation. Your doctor may recommend
another product by Biotics, called Bio FCTS, to help decrease inflammation.
Exercise and Joint Health
We can’t close a discussion about joint health without some mention of
exercise. There is no direct blood supply to the cartilage. So the basic
nutrients of life, oxygen and water must enter through passive circulation.
Passive circulation to the joints depends upon movement. Healthy joints need
exercise and mobility. Non-weight bearing exercises can be used daily.
For example, sit in your chair and let your legs hang
over the edge. Use a book or cushion to sit upon, so your feet do not hit the
floor. Thrust your foot back and forth to exercise the knee joint. Do not force
your foot forward to the point of pain, unless your doctor directs you to. This
back and forth motion of your leg will create the passive circulation necessary
for the nutrients to enter the cartilage.
This type of exercise can be created for almost any
joint. Your doctor will help to design a mobility program for you. It is
imperative that you move your joints if you are to maintain or replenish their
needed nutrients. Joints do not work well if they are overused or underused.
Conclusion
Other factors may come into play as you begin the process
of feeding the nutrients necessary for your joints to heal and repair. Each
person is an individual, and as such, has an individual biochemistry, with its
own strength and weaknesses. Your doctor may decide to do further testing to
assist your recovery. He or she may recommend books for you to read, discussing
the value of becoming a self-detective.
We would like to blame someone else for the way that we
feel, but the truth of the matter is that we all make choices everyday that
will strengthen our bodies or weaken them. It is important to discover what we
are doing to our bodies, consciously or unconsciously that may be weakening
them. If good health is our desire, we need to take the necessary steps to
repair and rebuild our bodies. One of the best books on the market in detecting
such habits and educating us in how to go to the next level was written by
Deborah Wilcox, entitled Arthritis Relief,
I hope this discussion has been helpful. We’ve touched
upon many areas designed to stimulate your interest in your own health. I want
to leave you with a wise old proverb. If you do not take good care of yourself,
no one else will. Good health is not an accident, it is purposed in what we
choose, the food we eat, the thoughts we think. Good health begins with a
choice, your choice.