Taking pain out of the joints

> A good hyaluronic acid supplement can help ease the suffering of those with osteoarthritis, especially among the elderly

AS WE grow older, one of the ailments we will suffer from is osteoarthritis. This progressive disease occurs as the degeneration of the hyaline cartilage covering articular (bone) surfaces.

Osteoarthritis causes pain and functional impairment. It is also closely linked to age, mostly affecting people in their 50s and 60s.

In the Global Burden of Disease 2010 Study, it was estimated that 251 million people suffered from knee osteoarthritis worldwide.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also estimated that the number of people aged 65 or older has risen to 524 million, and that this number is expected to triple by 2050, which will represent 16% of the world’s population.

A survey by the Community Oriented Programme for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (Copcord), which was conducted in Malaysia back in 2007, found that most osteoarthritis sufferers in Malaysia have knee osteoarthritis.

The survey also found that most Malaysians aged 55 years and above said their rate of pain has increased to 23% while those over 65 years complained of a 39% increase in their pain rate.

Studies have also shown a trend among younger patients suffering from early stages of this disease.

Osteoarthritis has a predisposition to strike the knee, certain joints in the hand, the hip and the small joints in the spine.

However, the disease can occur in any joint and can affect one or more joints. Worse, our body can’t repair joint damage by itself.

Smooth tissue called cartilage and synovium and a lubricant called synovial fluid cushion the joints so bones do not rub together.

But increasing age, injury (including sitting the wrong way or being overweight) can cause wear and tear in the cartilage. This damage to the joints leads to arthritis.

The best way to care for our joints is to keep them and our muscles, ligaments, and bones strong and stable.

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body and is found in high concentrations in joint or synovial fluid. It acts as a shock absorber and lubricant in a healthy joint.

For those suffering from osteoarthritis, this acid breaks down to a generally lower-thannormal concentration that causes joint pain and stiffness.

Possible treatment options commonly offered as pain relief include injections to replenish the synovial fluid.

However, hyaluronic injections, also known as viscosupplements, can be painful and don’t always work for everyone.

A less popular option is to go for a joint replacement surgery which could be costly.

A new formulation of Hyaluronic Acid with Type II Collagen, made from Mobilee and B2cool, is the latest oral solution to lubricate dried-up joints for those suffering from osteoarthritis.

Mobilee is a patented natural ingredient with a high concentration of hyaluronic acid extracted from rooster combs which are rich in sodium hyalurate (HA), hydrolysed collagen and polysaccharides.

B2cool, a native type II collagen extracted from chicken sternum cartilage, has demonstrated clinical effect at low doses in different joint problems – rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and joint discomfort – by reducing joint swelling and pain, and improving knee function.

It is proven safe with no side effects reported and only low doses are needed. It has a unique mechanism of action and oral tolerance absorbed in the gut and initiates cell-signalling cascades that use the body’s natural repair mechanisms.

Marta Masides Olagarta, the international scientific manager of Bioiberica in Barcelona, Spain, said: “This unique combination is clinically tested to help sufferers … by increasing joint hyaluronic acids by 10 folds, and to rebuild joint cartilage repairing process and regain strength, naturally.

“Early treatment can help to alleviate the symptoms and slow down the progression of this disease … [especially among] many [in the] younger population who wants to be active in sport but can’t due to early stages of joint degeneration.”

This article is brought to you by an in-house pharmacist at Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd. For more, call the infoline at 1300-88-1712 or email enquiry@cambert.com. my.