REVIEW ON NUTRACEUTICALS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative inflammatory condition of the joint cartilage that currently affectsapproximately 58 million adults in the world. It is characterized by pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motionwith regard to the arthritic joints. These symptoms can cause in the long term a greater risk of overweight/obesity,diabetes mellitus, and falls and fractures. Although the current treatment of OA is characterized by non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), opioids, and cyclooxygenase (COX-2-specific) drugs, this may affect a varietyof vital organs with long-term use so nowadays great interest has been applied to nutraceutical supplements, whichinclude a heterogeneous class of molecules with great potential to reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, pain, andjoint stiffness and improve cartilage formation. The purpose of this review is to describe the potential applicationof nutraceuticals in OA, highlighting its mechanism.