Supplement can beat arthritis pain

Taking a supplement of chondroitin sulphate — found in joint cartilage — is as effective as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for knee arthritis, suggests a new Belgian study.

More than 600 volunteers were given one 800mg chondroitin sulphate capsule plus a dummy Celebrex tablet (a type of NSAID), or a dummy chondroitin sulphate tablet and a real Celebrex tablet, or two dummy tablets daily for six months. Those taking Celebrex or chondroitin sulphate showed the most improvement in pain and movement. given the potential side-effects of NSAIDS, chondroitin sulphate should be considered first for knee arthritis, the researchers wrote in the annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.