Supplements That Reduce Inflammation

The underlying basis of many debilitating illnesses such as heart disease and cancer is chronic inflammation. In fact, inflammation is now recognized as an overwhelming burden to healthcare, as it is the culprit for many diseases that are a result of decades of lifestyle choices. (1) The long-term use of current remedies such as aspirin and non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has raised some concerns, such as major bleeding events, primarily gastrointestinal bleeding in men and women. (2) Therefore, it is important to find alternative safe and effective methods of reducing inflammation and the risk of disease associated with chronic inflammation.

Laboratory evidence suggests that the use of specialty dietary supplements, specifically: glucosamine, chondroitin and the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil reduce inflammation. They do this by inhibiting a protein known as nuclear factor kappa B, which is involved in the inflammation process. (3) There had only been two small studies on glucosamine or chondroitin supplement use and inflammation in humans, both of which involved less than 50 people (4, 5).

Now a new large study, which included 9,947 adults living in the United States, has investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of the specialty dietary supplements. The data was collected from 1999 to 2004, using a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This survey assessed the use of the supplements through a series of interviews during which participants provided information about all the supplements they used and the frequency of use with focus on specialty supplements that reduce inflammation including glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oil, MSM, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, saw palmetto and pycnogenol-containing supplements.

The levels of inflammation were measured using a CRP (C -reactive protein), a protein that is generated in the body as a result of inflammation. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between regular intake of some of the supplements, referring to more than 20 days per month and a decrease in the level of CRP. Specifically, glucosamine intake resulted in 17% decrease in CRP, chondroitin showed a 22% decrease in CRP and fish oil lowered the CRP by 16% as compared to non-use. The results were more significant among women than men. The remaining supplements including MSM, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, saw palmetto, and pycnogenol were not statistically shown to reduce levels of CRP. (6) The study suggests that the alternatives to standard treatments to decrease inflammation are very effective and pose less of a risk to long-term health.

Posted January 23, 2013.

References:

1. Edwards, T. “Inflammation, pain, and chronic disease: an integrative approach to treatment and prevention.” Alternative therapies in health and medicine 11.6 (2005): 20.
2. Wolff T, Miller T, Ko S. Aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events: an update of the evidence for the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2009; 150(6):405-410.
3. Largo R, Alvarez-Soria MA, Diez-Ortego I, et al. Glucosamine inhibits IL-1β-induced NFkB activation in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Osteoarthrities Cartilage. 2003;11(4):290-298.
4. Nakamura H, Nishioka K. Effects of glucosamine/chondroitin supplement on osteoarthritis: involvement of PGE₂ and YKL-40. J Rheum Joint Surg. 2002; 175-184.
5. Nakamura H, Masuko K, Yudoh K, et al. Effects of glucosamine administration on patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int. 2007; 27(3): 213-218.
6. Kantor D. E., et al., “Association Between Use of Specialty Dietary Supplements and C-Reactive Protein Concentrations.” Am J Epidemiol 2012. 176(11):1002-1013.