What Is “Arthritis” ?
When this question is asked, most people respond, "You know, painful joints, stiffness and so forth." This is exactly right. Instead of getting all caught up with the name of a disease, we should focus on what makes up or causes that disease.
If we really looked at arthritis, we would find several things have to happen before we have the diagnosis:
a. The joint fluid becomes thin rather than the thick viscous fluid it was.
b. The cartilage becomes less concentrated and dense.
c. Bone begins to touch bone and cartilage and irritation begin.
d. Inflammation and swelling result, causing stiffness and pain.
If we approach each of the above four changes and work on reversing or reducing them and are successful, do we still have arthritis ? Obviously, not!
Therefore, arthritis is not an incurable disease as the textbooks say (because the cause is not known) - but, instead, a conglomerate of physiological changes which can be addressed by various means and brought back towards normal.
Correcting the physiological changes with natural substances does not treat the disease, but merely assists the body in restoring to normal some chemical changes that have occurred. Thus, such an approach is not "the practice of medicine" nor can the nutrients be called "drugs."
Now that we know we need to regain viscosity of the synovial (joint) fluid, reduce inflammation and restore cartilage density; it is time to begin the attack to correct these physiological changes.
Glucosamine Sulfate
Glucosamine is an amino sugar normally found in the human body and is the base material for making up mucous membranes, ligaments, tendons and synovial fluid in the joints. A deficiency of glucosamine can reduce the rate of production of these important tissues and lead to trauma. We have discussed the importance of restoring the synovial fluid viscosity so that it can cushion the joints. When a thinning of the fluid occurs, the cushioning is lost and consequently the bones and cartilage scrape against each other and the tendons rub against the hard edges of the bones. All of this leads to the symptoms associated with arthritis.
Positive Results
When glucosamine sulfate is added to the diet you might expect the following positive response:
• Synovial fluid increases and thickens • Healing of tendons
• Reduction of inflammation • Repair of cartilage wear
Comparison to NSAID's
Glucosamine sulfate has been compared to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's) commonly used to treat arthritis. Although there is abundant evidence that continued use of these drugs actually increases the progress of arthritis, NSAID's are still the most common treatment by medical practitioners. The pain relief and reduction of inflammation by patients using glucosamine sulfate was superior to those using the NSAID's after a period of only eight weeks.
Chondroitin Sulfate
Collagen is the major supportive tissue in the human body. Cartilage, ligaments and tendons are supportive structures and are primarily made of collagen. As collagen tissue ages it tends to harden and become stiff. The addition of certain fractions of collagen orally, such as chondroitin sulfate, can prevent the hardening of this tissue. In recent TV news reports, researchers have stated that before the year 2000 all an arthritic would need to do is to add a few grams of a chondroitin sulfate powder to his daily orange juice to restore mobility to his or her joints.
Curcumin
This herb extract belongs to the flavonoid family and like other members has anti-viral, anti- carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine and antioxidant properties. But this powerful extract is best known for its anti-inflammatory benefits and is totally without known side effects. It has long been used in many cultures to relieve the symptoms of arthritis. You can read any Ayurvedic text and find the single most important herb for arthritis is curcumin.
Niacinamide
Drs. William Kaufman and Abram Hoffer have reported very good clinical results using niacinamide in both rheumatoid and osteo arthritis. This important nutrient has other beneficial functions in the body and should be considered in a total program for arthritis.
Cetylmyristoleate (CMO)
Please let me share with you one of the most exciting nutritional discoveries I have had the pleasure of working with in my entire career. Cetylmyristoleate is a fatty acid found in extremely small amounts in the oil bearing seeds and nuts and in the fat of animals. As outlined in my booklet, ARTHRITIS, this very important fatty acid is capable of modulating the hyper-
immune reaction that can take place in the body resulting in devastating destruction such as seen in rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosis, multiple sclerosis, etc. Over 400 osteo and rheumatoid arthritis patients were tested using a combination of CMO and the other nutrients we have discussed. The results were nothing short of miraculous - 86 percent were literally put into remission from arthritis that had crippled them for years. (You will find a synopsis of this study at the end of this brochure.)
Cetylmyristoleate does not depress the immune system, it controls over-reaction. The combination of this factor with supportive nutrients to repair and restore damaged tissues can affect a real change in those who may have been subject to such a hyper-immune reaction resulting in rheumatoid or osteo arthritis.
References:
O'Ambrosia, E. et al. Glucosamine sulfate: a controlled clinical investigation in arthritis. Pharmatherapeutica 1991; 1:504-508 Pujalta, J.M. et al. Double-blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulfate in the treatment of osteo arthritis. Curr. Med. Res. Opin. 1980. 7:110-114. Tapadinhas, M.J.; Rivera, I.C. and Bignamini. Oral Glucosamine sulfate in the management of arthrosis: report on a multi-centre open investigation in Portugal. Pharmatherapeutica, 3:157-68, 1982.
Energy Food For Joints
Suggested Use: 6 capsules daily,
3 capsules twice daily with meals, for two months.
Each 6 Capsules Contain:
Cetylmyristoleate.....................600 mg.
Chondroitin Sulfate.................1200 mg.
Glucosamine Sulfate...............1200 mg.
Curcumin.................................300 mg.
Niacinamide.............................300 mg.
Do not overlook CMO Joint Lotion; which can help control pain, especially during the first period when the capsules have not had a chance to work.
A SYNOPSIS OF THE DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY
THE EFFECT OF cis-9-CETYLMYRISTOLEATE (CMO) AND
ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY ON THE COURSE OF ARTHRITIC EPISODES
IN PATIENTS WITH PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED ARTHRITIS
Kurt W. Donsbach, D.C., N.D., Ph.D.
Humberto Seimandi, M.D.,
Chief of Staff, Hospital Santa Monica
Objective. Recent published reports offer anecdotal evidence that cis-9-cetylmyristoleate may provide significant amelioration of various arthritic conditions. We set out to perform controlled studies to determine if this material was efficacious, either in the short term, or in some measurable manner, over a much longer period of time.
Methods. A prospective, randomized study design was used to allocate patients to receive cis-9-cetylmyristoleate; cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus glucosamine sulfate (GS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), curcumin (C) and niacinamide (N); and a placebo.
Results. At the start of this study, the duration, severity, and pattern of arthritic episodes were found to be similar in the three treatment groups. At the end of the study, it was found that the number of arthritic episodes was significantly reduced and the duration of episode-free time was significantly prolonged in the two cis-9-cetylmyristoleate groups compared with the placebo group.
Conclusion. Cis-9-cetylmyristoleate treatment and cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N were demonstrated to offer significant benefits over the placebo in the prevention of arthritic episodes. It was further determined that these results could not be obtained with other standard arthritic therapies based upon exhaustive reviews of patient records prior to opening of the study. Cis-9-cetylmyristoleate and cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N treatment also seems to permit some relief to autoimmune inflammatory diseases which may prove to be long-term.
This finding could provide additional evidence for the theory, reflected by the earlier anecdotal evidence, as well as some animal studies; that cis-9-cetylmyristoleate and cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N may prove to be of major benefit in the future treatment of other autoimmune diseases.
THE STUDY
Patient population. Four hundred thirty-one patients entered the study. Of these, 106 were randomized to receive cis-9-cetylmyristoleate, 84 were randomized to receive cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N; 226 received a placebo. Fifteen psoriatics received cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N, plus CMO-25% concentration topical at a 3X quantity ratio. Even though the study was sponsored by the owner of the respective private hospital, recruitment was not limited to the typical fee-paying patients. Approximately 27% of the patients were actively recruited in the respective local area. Despite a prolonged accrual period and careful screening, the loss of approximately 11% of the starting participants occurred largely because of the inability to stop the use of tobacco and/or caffeinated beverages. Fulfillment of the final parameter of study size was accomplished by the substantial excess of volunteers wanting to enter the study - this, coupled with the relatively short testing period required to validate the effects of cis-9-cetylmyristoleate and cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N.
Compliance. Compliance for both the cis-9-cetylmyristoleate and cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N and placebo groups was quite high. There was a statistical trend toward those in the cis-9-cetylmyristoleate and cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N group taking more tablets per day (96% compliance) than those in the placebo group (86% compliance) (P = 0.08). The probability of this observation was due to the rapid response of pain relief in the cetylmyristoleate groups.
Primary outcome measures. The Oversight Committee defined response based on a decision rule as outlined in Patients and Methods. Based on treatment response, using the last-visit analysis, response rates were 63.3% in the cis-9-cetylmyristoleate group and 87.3% in the cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N group and 14.5% in the placebo group. Trends favoring cis-9-cetylmyristoleate and cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N groups were noted in components of the response definition. Physician overall assessment showed an improvement of 58.1% for the patients using cis-9-cetylmyristoleate alone and 84.2% for the patients using cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N. Patients experiencing worsening or no reaction totaled 1.0% in all groups, compared with improvement of 13.9% in placebo group. Patient overall self-assessment demonstrated 59.2% improvement in the cis-9-cetylmyristoleate alone group and 88.2% in the cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N. Patients experiencing worsening or no reaction totaled 1.0% in all groups, compared with improvement of 16.1% in placebo group. Joint swelling scores improved in 47.2% in patients using cis-9-cetylmyristoleate alone and 77.2% in patients using cis-9-cetylmyristoleate plus GS, CS, C & N. Patients experiencing worsening or no reaction totaled 1.0% in all groups, compared with improvement of 21.1% in placebo groups.
DISCUSSION
The results of this trial suggest that cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate supporting formulas may be beneficial in the treatment of many forms of arthritic based diseases, including psoriatic arthritis. The definition of response was determined a priori and included assessment of joint pain/tenderness and swelling as well as patient and physician overall assessments. Cetylmyristoleate & supporting formulas produced the best treatment response by a factor of 72.8% more patients than did placebo. Considering the components of response individually, cetylmyristoleate & supporting formulas resulted in 70.3% more patients having improved, as assessed by physician, and 56.1% more having improved joint swelling. Therefore, while the amount of treatment response using cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate & supporting formulas seems to be consistent with the treatment affects on joint counts; it is obvious that there is a statistically significant improvement in the use of the CMO with supporting formulas.
The timeline based response rate of cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate supporting formulas, not adequately reflected in data by patient, showed the majority of patients responding to cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate supporting formulas did so within the first three weeks. Also, not reflected in the data, was the continued use of cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate supporting formulas beyond the study time limits and dispensed on request to 21 patients. These 21 patients were determined to have received only marginal benefits from cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate supporting formulas, but one more course of treatment showed responses equal to the first patient response results.
Cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate supporting formulas were well tolerated in this trial. This finding was not unexpected as cetylmyristoleate and the cetylmyristoleate supporting formula components are naturally occurring and have been used as diet supplementation for many years and are widely available singularly and in various combinations.
In summary, cetylmyristoleate and cetylmyristoleate supporting formulas appear to be beneficial in the treatment of a wide range of arthritic conditions, including long standing and refractive cases.
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