Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease and a leading cause of adult\r\ndisability. There is no cure for OA, and no effective treatments which arrest or slow its\r\nprogression. Current pharmacologic treatments such as analgesics may improve pain relief\r\nbut do not alter OA disease progression. Prolonged consumption of these drugs can result\r\nin severe adverse effects. Given the nature of OA, life-long treatment will likely be\r\nrequired to arrest or slow its progression. Consequently, there is an urgent need for OA\r\ndisease-modifying therapies which also improve symptoms and are safe for clinical use\r\nover long periods of time. Nutraceuticalsââ?¬â?food or food products that provide medical or\r\nhealth benefits, including the prevention and/or treatment of a diseaseââ?¬â?offer not only\r\nfavorable safety profiles, but may exert disease- and symptom-modification effects in OA.\r\nForty-seven percent of OA patients use alternative medications, including nutraceuticals.\r\nThis review will overview the efficacy and mechanism of action of commonly used\r\nnutraceuticals, discuss recent experimental and clinical data on the effects of select\r\nnutraceuticals, such as phytoflavonoids, polyphenols, and bioflavonoids on OA, and\r\nhighlight their known molecular actions and limitations of their current use. We will\r\nconclude with a proposed novel nutraceutical-based molecular targeting strategy for\r\nchondroprotection and OA treatment.
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