Osteoarthritis Increased by Uric Acid

Duke University Medical Center researchers have found the amount of uric acid in the joints could possibly higher the chances for severe osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a incapacitating joint degeneration in which no medication so far has proved to slow down or halt the progression. Health practitioners can only treat the symptoms to provide relief and those who endure this condition have a decrease in quality of life.

Dr. Virginia Byers Kraus, M.D.,PhD, professor of medicine at Duke in the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, states that discovering a way to treat the degenerating joints would be an exceptional breakthrough. The research goes a step forward in identifying uric acid as a risk factor for osteoarthritis.

The researchers observed 159 people who had knee osteoarthritis with no history of gout, a type of arthritis which is triggered by uric acid crystals in the joints. The researchers had discovered the severity of osteoarthritis in their knees to be strongly associated to the amount of uric acid in their knees. These findings are published online at PNAS and they demonstrate regardless of no gout history, above normal uric acid levels in 39% of the studies populace, and proof of the form of inflammation in the joints which is usually triggered by uric acid crystals.

Dr. Kraus states that in a non-gout populace, this supports some of the very first proof that uric acid level is possible cause of inflammatory events and joint degeneration in osteoarthritis

Dr. Kraus continues that there are numerous medications available to lower uric acid levels. The next question Dr. Kraus notes if you are able to decrease uric acid levels in osteoarthritis patients, is it possible to slow down the progression of their osteoarthritis and provide a meaningful change in the course of their disease

There are numerous markers for osteoarthritis that are suggestive of disease severity according to Dr. Kraus. This also is a presumed marker and a mediator of the disease process not just a marker of how much of the disease is present

Dr. Kraus and associates believe that this is factual due to the fact of the uric acid levels being so strongly linked with the severity of the disease and associated to disease progression over a span of time

Current conventional treatments for people with high uric acid levels and gout symptoms dictate uric acid lowering medications.

In closing Dr. Kraus notes that Duke has great strengths in osteoarthritis and gout disease. The researchers believe it is the ideal situation to pursue examinations of the interface between the two and attempt to find out if uric acid should be decreased to aide in the prevention and start or progression of osteoarthritis.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease, gout affects 275 people out of 100,000 and affects men more than women.

There are several alternative treatments for gout and lowering uric acid levels

For lowering uric acid levels:

Foods which should be avoided are red meat, gravy, broth, poultry, shell fish, sardines, mackerel, legumes, yeast extracts, cauliflower, asparagus and alcohol are just a few of them.

Include different fruits in your diet for they can flush out uric acid from the body.

Consume at least two liters of water daily.

Cherries reduce the painful symptoms from high uric acid in the body.

Add baking soda to the water, it makes urine more alkaline.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care can aide in pain and inflammation. Many patients have used chiropractic care for many forms of arthritis. Chiropractic treatments such as manipulations, nutritional, herbal and exercises can be employed.

Acupuncture

Acupuncturists can provide treatments to other areas than the joint in which is swollen to provide pain relief. Points used consist of those for tenderness and swelling around big toe and ankle.

Reflexology

Reflexology restores balance to the kidneys. A trained reflexology practitioner is familiar as to the areas which affect the kidneys. It should be applied to both feet. This therapy can also possibly breakup deposits of uric acid crystals that could have become concentrated in the feet. Sources:

Medical News Today

Nutra Med

Seek Wellness

Tandurust

Gout Facts

Holistic Online