M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and debilitating condition, characterized by irreversible damage to the joint space, most commonly affecting the knees, hips, hands and spine (Colledge et al., 2010). OA is the leading cause of joint pain and disability in middle-aged and elderly persons (Long et al., 2001). The prevalence of OA of the knee in adults living in the United Sates has grown from a reported 21 million in 1990 to a total estimate of 26.9 million in 2005 (CDC, 2011). By the age of 65 years, 80% of the total population has been reported as showing radiographic evidence of OA; while a 20-30% of the total population is symptomatic with radiographic evidence of OA (Doherty et al., 2006). Conventional treatment for OA of the knee is aimed at pain management by use of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some negative effects of these drugs include drug dependency, liver and kidney damage, cardiovascular pathologies, gastric upset and depression. Corticosteroid injections are also used to alleviate chronic inflammation and joint pain, but may lead to further joint destruction (Shamoon and Hochberg, 2000; Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2011). OsteoEze Gold™ is a nutraceutical product that contains chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine sulphate, vitamin C and manganese. In combination, the constituents of OsteoEze Gold™ have been shown to be useful in the treatment for OA of the knee (Clegg et al., 2006). In addition, studies have shown that these ingredients prove effective in reducing moderate to severe pain in sufferers of OA of the knee (Vidyasagar et al., 2004). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of OsteoEze Gold™ on the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) and quality of life in OA of the knee using blood tests and the Arthritic Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS2SF) respectively. This was a 16-week, double blind, placebo-controlled study using matched pairs according to age, gender and severity of symptoms, and formed part of a group study, with another researcher, who utilized the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain scale (ICOAP) Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the same sample...
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:12593 |
| Date | 13 October 2014 |
| Creators | Levy, Romy |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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