According to a new Belgian study, glucosamine and chondroitin help lower the pain as well as improving the functions of the knees in Osteoarthritis (OA) and are very safe. John Klippel, M.D. who is the medical director of the Arthritis Foundation, says glucosamine is so great because it lowers cartilage loss and slows the progression of OA. In one study, glucosamine showed to reduce arthritis knee pain and disability 20% to 25% in patients taking 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine on a daily bases for 3 years. Although, glucosamine and chondroitin are typically used together, Klippel says that there is no proof that they work better together than alone.

In addition, glucosamine sulfate, when taking 500 mg of it three times a day, can also relieve the pain of temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). TMJ is a type of osteoarthritis of the jaw which usually affects younger people.

In other studies, the natural form of sulfur compound SAM-e was just as effective as NSAIDs was. The recommended dosages for Sulfur compound SAM-2 is 600 mg to 1,200 mg per day and only use it under the supervision of a doctor. Although methyl-sulfonyl-methane is widely promoted and consumed, there currently isn’t a controlled study to show that this sulfur component will relieve OA in humans.

Klippel also said that research also indicates that vitamins and antioxidants like vitamin c can protect against OA. In addition, losing weight will cut down the risks of developing OA in the knees and hips. Analysis shows that overweight middle-aged women who lost 11 pounds over a ten year period basically slashed their risks of knee osteoarthritis in half.

Bet supplements in fish oil is great in rheumatoid arthritis patients because it is an anti-inflammatory substance, relieves pain, and stiffness. In a study conducted, patients saw improvements after 12 weeks. The usual dose is 3,000 mg of EPA/DHA, the active ingredients in fish oil, which is high but is safe when taken under the supervision of a doctor. This dosage can make the blood thinner and reacts with other medications.