Supplements for Joint Pain Glenview IL

By Lisa Turner

A body’s only as good as the joints that move it: Just ask the Tin Man from Oz. Yet more than 40 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and millions more experience other types of joint pain. The culprits can include everything from autoimmune disorders to chronic overuse, but, says Fred Pescatore, MD, president-elect of the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists, “the common denominator behind joint pain is inflammation.” Lower that he says, and you’ll lower the pain. Along with anti-inflammatory foods, such as omega-3 fatty acids and the spice turmeric, several supplements can help your joints feel like new.

D-ribose, malic acid, and magnesium. “A major component of what people consider arthritis pain comes from the shortening of the small muscles and not from the joints themselves,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers and author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Penguin/Avery, 2007) and Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program to Get You Pain Free! (McGraw-Hill, 2006). For the muscles to lengthen, they need to relax. And that requires energy. “A key, but underappreciated, factor in physiology is that it takes much more energy for muscles to relax than to contract,” Teitelbaum explains. When taken in a combination formula, “d-ribose, malic acid, and magnesium all dramatically increase the body’s energy production and, thus, promote relaxation.” Early research is exciting, but you need all three supplements to get the effect. “It’s like building a house,” says Teitelbaum. “Ribose is the lumber, malic acid the hammers, and magnesium the workers. You need all three of them for the house to go up, and you need all of these supplements to make energy.” Typical dosage: 5 grams of ribose, at least 600 mg of malic acid, and 40 mg of magnesium, three times a day for three to four weeks, and then go to twice a day. Cut back the dose of magnesium if it loosens your stools too much.

Glucosamine. This tried-and-true favorite, naturally produced in the body, promotes the structure and function of cartilage in the joints. Some studies have found glucosamine relieves pain and improves movement just as effectively as ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) without the side effects of NSAIDS, such as bleeding and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. Glucosamine supplements are usually derived from chitin, present in crab, lobster, and shrimp shells. Animal lovers rejoice though: A vegan version, made from a mold called Aspergillis niger,recently became available as well. You can buy glucosamine in three forms: glucosamine hydrochloride, N-acetyl glucosamine, and glucosamine sulfate. The sulfate form contains sulfur, thought to strengthen collagen in joints, so it’s usually the preferred form for treating joint pain. Typical dosage: 1,500 mg daily in divided doses.

Chondroitin sulfate, also found naturally in the body, gives cartilage ...

Author: Lisa Turner

Copyright 1999-2009 Natural Solutions: Vibrant Health, Balanced Living/Alternative Medicine/InnoVisi...

Click here to read more from Natural Solutions