In answer to your question there are several supplements that have been shown to be clinically effective in decreasing the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis as well as decreasing or modifying the progression of the degeneration.
Osteoarthritis is a disease of wear and tear in joints such as the hip joint. Most of the joints affected by osteoarthritis are required to carry large amounts of weight and to have movement in many different directions. The hip being a ball and socket joint gives our legs substantial flexibility whilst carrying the weight of our trunk, arms, legs and head. The need for weight bearing requires structural strength which along with the hip’s flexibility is unfortunately compromised when there is arthritis.
In recent years there has been a lot of media exposure concerning the supplement Glucosamine. This supplement has been shown to be a disease modifying compound. Meaning it can modify or change the progression of the disease. The supplement when taken for a minimum period of time usually 4-6 weeks can strengthen the body's natural repair mechanisms. It has also been shown to regenerate damaged and eroded cartilage. The combination of these two actions leads to a significant reduction in pain and inflammation and possibly a reduction for the need of anti inflammatory drugs. The dosage of Glucosamine is recommended to be 1.5 grams a day. Glucosamine is usually sourced from shellfish and is a sulphur containing compound. If you have a shellfish or sulphur allergy some forms of glucosamine may not be suitable for you and a Naturopath should be involved in the selection of your product.
Many glucosamine based products will also contain Chondroitin and MSM. These two nutrients have been demonstrated to have an effect on aiding to decrease the progression of degeneration and reducing the inflammation of osteoarthritis. If you are utilising a supplement that contains all of these products you will often take them in a high concentration powdered supplement. This reduces the intake of many tablets and allows the supplement to be delivered in one or two easy doses. I personally recommend the use of Designer Physique's Joint Food and Nutralife's Concentrated Joint Formula with MSM.
Recent research at Monash University has studied the use of Cumerone (sourced from Turmeric) as an effective anti inflammatory compound to decrease the pain of arthritis. The studies suggest that use of Cumerone can decrease pain levels within 2-3 days when taken at a dose of 1200-2400mg. This reasearch also studied the combined effect of Glucosamine and Cumerone and reported some very successful results. Some results were comparable and superior to pharmaceutical drugs. Cumerone at this dosage is available by talking to one of our Naturopaths who can prescribe the product based on your individual requirements.
Other supplements that can aid in decreasing the pain of osteoarthritis include Fish Oils and Minerals. Fish Oils have a lot of conclusive research which shows that at the right dosage pain and inflammation can be significantly reduced. I will often suggest the use of a liquid Fish Oil or a high strength capsule when treating someone with arthritis as the dosage required of the beneficial Omega three fatty acids is quite high. For a regular strength Fish oil capsule you would require 12-14 capsules a day, whereas a Liquid Fish oil such as the Ethical Nutrients High Strength Fish Oil requires you to take only 1 teaspoon a day. This product is endorsed by the Arthritis Association in Australia.
Minerals are essential as ultimately osteoarthritis is degenerative, supplying building compounds such as Glucosamine which stimulate repair will eventually require that your body can provide necessary minerals and vitamins to manufacture the new healthy joint cartilage. Minerals are an essential part of this repair process. Your dosage of minerals depends on whether there is also co-existing low bone density. If this is the case calcium and magnesium must be considered in higher dosage. If this is not a factor a liquid mineral supplement such as Citramin by SAFE is a great way to get essential trace minerals back into your diet.
Finally there is also some benefit to be gained by looking at the quality and overall acidity of your diet. It is generally regarded that foods which cause acidity e.g coffee, processed foods, high sugar foods and red meats will also cause a higher incidence of inflammation in the body. Eating a wide variety of vegetables particularly green leafy vegetables and ensuring that your diet is rich in quality fatty acids and wholegrains may contribute to your overall health.