Osteoarthritis is a common cause of musculoskeletal disability among the
elderly. This can place burdens on society as this becomes more problematic for health
care professionals to treat. For years, the management of osteoarthritic symptoms has
been limited through the use of non-steroidal. Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) for
relief of pain and other debilitating symptoms. Since NSAIDs can cause other adverse
side effects, nutritional supplements are being promoted as aids for preventing and
reducing symptoms that relate to osteoarthritis without the development of adverse side
effects. This chapter reviews the background of osteoarthritis as a degenerative joint
disease while also looking at animal studies and human clinical trials that evaluate the
effects of various nutritional supplements on joint health.
Keywords: Boron, Chondroitin sulfate, Curcumin, Dietary supplements,
Dimethyl sulfoxide, Functional foods, Glucosamine sulfate, Inflammation, Joints,
Magnesium, Nutrients, Omega-3, Osteoarthritis, Resveratrol, Soy, Vitamin E.
