Chondroitin sulphate 'treats osteoarthritis'
Individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) could benefit from treatment with chondroitin sulphate, new research indicates.
A study published in journal Arthritis & Rheumatism has found that chondroitin sulphate significantly lessened pain and improved the hand function of patients with OA.
The Finger osteoArthritis Chondroitin Treatment Study (FACTS) found a decrease in global hand pain in those who had received the treatment, reflecting an 8.7 drop on the visual analogue scale.
In addition, hand function improved by more than two points on the Functional Index for Hand OA.
Dr Cem Gabay, lead investigator of the FACTS research, said: "Our findings show chondroitin sulphate is a safe and effective treatment for patients with hand OA.
"Alternative therapies, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), provide similar pain reducing effects, but with considerably more long-term toxicities."
Meanwhile, research published in journal Arthritis Research & Therapy has revealed that treatment with glucocorticoids could prevent the long-term damage to joints after injury which can lead to OA.
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