Abstract
Many of our most important pharmaceuticals have their origins in plants, such as digoxin, penicillin and coumadin. However, many physicians are deeply sceptical about the use of natural remedies. This scepticism is based on the concerns about patient self-diagnosis and treatment as well as the lack of scientific testing of claims. Nonetheless, a new class has emerged called nutraceuticals – nutritional supplements with pharmaceutical properties. Because these substances are relatively unregulated, there is no requirement for rigorous scientific testing prior to marketing. This lack of regulation also poses problems with purity and quality control. Even so, patients are being bombarded with, and responding to, claims of the results of these of herbs, nutraceuticals, and nutritional supplements.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate sales alone in the USA are estimated at $600 million. Sales of all neutraceuticals and vitamin supplements in the USA exceeded $12 billion in 1999. Many physicians took offence at the title of the book by Theodaskis et al., The Arthritis Cure, because they know no cure exists. Patients, on the other hand, pushed sales of the book to the best-seller list. Moreover, glucosamine and chondroitin have been widely studied in tissue culture, animal models of arthritis, veterinary clinical trials, and human comparative or placebo controlled trials. No published study has failed to show a positive effect and no trial has shown significant side affects. These nutraceuticals have become our first line of treatment for osteoarthritis.
The abstracts were prepared by Mrs Dorothy L. Granchi, Course Coordinator. Correspondence should be addressed to her at PMB 295, 8000 Plaza Boulevard, Mentor, Ohio 44060, USA.
