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The increased risk is small and only applies to people taking the maximum recommended dose for substantial period of time. However, publication of research in the Lancet into ibuprofen and diclofenac covering 353,000 patient records from 639 clinical trials has caused alarm amongst elderly people who use these drugs to reduce the pain they otherwise have to live with. The research showed that people taking these drugs are increasing their risk of heart attacks from 8 per 1000 to 11 per 1000. This is not the first time that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have given rise for concern. A few months before this report, other research published in PLosMedicine highlighted the risks of diclofenic taken by people with heart problems and in 2004 another NSAID drug called Vioxx was voluntarily taken off the market by the manufacturers. Although doctors are keen to reassure patients that the increased risks arising from the heavy and regular use of this class of drugs are small, nevertheless the risks are real and concern is justified. The question arises, are there alternative remedies that can relieve pain which have not been found to carry attendant risks? One possibility is a health supplement remedy called UC II. . UC-II is a novel undenatured type II collagen derived from chicken sternum cartilage. This chicken derivative supplement has, in a small human trial, been compared to a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee The research paper published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences states "The results indicate that UC-II treatment was more efficacious resulting in a significant reduction in all assessments from the baseline at 90 days; whereas, this effect was not observed in G+C treatment group. Specifically, although both treatments reduced the Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, treatment with UC-II reduced the WOMAC score by 33% as compared to 14% in G+C treated group after 90 days" Arthritis afflicts approximately 43 million Americans or approximately 16.6% of the US population, the two most common types being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Pain varies from mild to severe and often gets worse with weight bearing, including walking which elderly people urged to do for their health! Although diclofenic and iprobrufen are effective for reducing pain associated with arthritis, they do not reverse the disease. As a result of recent reports about the considerable side effects which can be life threatening, pain sufferers have turned to natural health supplements to ease their discomfort. Currently, glucosamine and chondroitin are the two most commonly used supplements but research has shown that the benefits do not always live up to "hearsay" reports. Reading the research underlying popular health supplements can be a rewarding experience, increasing knowledge and self-confidence and making it easier to discuss alternative remedies with a health care specialist. David Mount BA Hons (CNNA), Cert Ed (Oxon). The author has no financial interest in this product Research Revelations
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osteo-arthritis, glucosamine, UC-II, health supplements, supplements, research revelations, pain killers, Ibuprofen, diclofenac, rheumatism,
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