Nutritional Therapy for Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Script from the year 2011 in the subject Nutritional Science, , language: English, abstract: Musculoskeletal disorders can be of inflammatory as well as degenerative nature. 10 to 15 percent of all patients presenting at medical surgeries suffer from diseases and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. It is estimated that about 2.5 to 3 percent of the German population suffer from inflammatory rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. These figures emphasise both, the need for providing those affected and interested in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system with up-to-date information, and the socio-economic impact and burden on the health-care system of this group of diseases. Rheumatoid diseases involve conditions associated with pain and functional limitations of the musculoskeletal system and as such, diseases of the peripheral joints have to be differentiated from diseases affecting the root skeleton and the ones affecting connective tissues. People adversely affected by rheumatoid arthritis, are known to benefit from an anti-inflammatory nutritional therapy, as it is described in this book. This diet is low in inflammation-promoting arachidonic acid and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce inflammatory reactions. At least 800.000 people in Germany suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease is characterised by the progressive degradation of cartilage. As part of the nutritional therapy, sufferers of osteoarthritis benefit from a healthy, balanced diet that helps to reduce weight and to prevent weight gain. Patients suffering from osteoarthritis often develop secondary inflammatory complications (activated osteoarthritis) and, hence, benefit from a similar diet recommended in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.