Arthritis and Daily Multivitamin – Is There A Link?

Arthritis, the family of degenerative diseases, are one of the top concerns in the United States and many other countries due to their abilities to cause disabilities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that half of the population will develop osteoarthritis in their knee by the age of 85 and a quarter of the population will develop arthritis in their hips by this age as well.

They also report that at least 22.7% of the American population are diagnosed with some type of arthritis at any given time, which accounts for more than 50 million people in the United States alone. Another alarming statistic reported is the fact that 62% of arthritis cases in adults account for individuals under the age of 65, which means these diseases are common among both older and younger people, causing a concern for the entire adult population, regardless of age.

The Arthritis Family

While many people would tell you that they have arthritis, the term arthritis doesn’t really provide a clear overview of their specific condition. Due to the fact that there are a vast variety of arthritis diseases, it is vital to know about the specific type of arthritis a person has been diagnosed with in order to acknowledge the damage that is being dealt with their bodies and the effects their specific disease has on their lives on a daily basis.

The reality of the situation is that there are more than 100 different types of arthritis identified by medical experts, with each causing different symptoms and taking a toll on the human body in a different way. WebMD reports that some of the most common types of arthritis diagnosed include:

• Osteoarthritis – Reported to be the most common type of arthritis. This type of arthritis causes damage to cartilage and joints due to the overuse of joints. It is also age-related arthritis. Osteoarthritis can also be caused by obesity and joint injuries, due to excessive stress being placed on joints.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – Reported to be an autoimmune disease, where the body’s internal immune system starts to attack different parts of the body, such as the joints. This effect leads to inflammation in the joints, which may lead to severely damaged joints if not treated.
• Psoriatic Arthritis – Reported to be a combination of psoriasis and arthritis. This type of arthritis causes both the joints and skin to become inflamed. It also causes patchy areas where the skin becomes inflamed, which can be either white or red.

Nutrition And Arthritis

Livescience reports that a study which started out in 1958 found malnutrition to be a possible cause for the development of osteoarthritis among a group of Moose. As the Moose population grew, the prevalence of osteoarthritis increased. When the population grew smaller, the prevalence of osteoarthritis also grew smaller. They also found that Moose who had a malnutrition at a young age were more likely to develop osteoarthritis when they become older and also had a higher chance of dying with osteoarthritis.

While this study was conducted on animals, it is important to note that both humans and animals have bones. Bones are in need to proper nutrition in order to assist with density and strength, as well as to continuously repair broken down parts of the bone structure.

Multivitamins For Arthritis Patients

Arthritis patients are often recommended a multivitamin in order to help maintain the overall health of their bones, joints cartilage, immune system and general wellbeing. While these daily multivitamins are said to assist patients who have been diagnosed with arthritis, it is vital to consider both the advantages and disadvantages multivitamins may offer patients, as well as to look at how exactly they may help.

When looking at multivitamins for arthritis patients, it is essential to consider the fact that, within the United States, any supplement that contains three or more vitamins are considered a multivitamin. This also means that each multivitamin will have different types of vitamins and different doses. For this reason, it is important to consider which vitamins are essential for arthritis patients and then to look for a multivitamin with these specific vitamin content.

Several studies and reports have been released, providing information that the following vitamins and minerals are the most essential for arthritis patients.

• Vitamin C – Natural Fitness Tips report that vitamin C is an essential part of the body that has a vital role in the production of collagen protein. Collagen protein helps to build healthy joints, blood vessels, and cartilage, which all provide benefits for arthritis patients. They also advise that a large dose of vitamin C may enhance the pain caused by osteoarthritis, thus a recommended intake of 75mg for women and 90mg for men on a daily basis is recommended.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids – The Arthritis Foundation reports that omega-3 fatty acids are converted into resolving within the body, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. This helps to decrease joint stiffness and tenderness, as well as helps to reduce pain.
• Vitamin D – The Arthritis Foundation reports that vitamin D is an essential nutrient for strong bones. They explain that this vitamin helps with calcium levels in the blood, as well as the regulation of phosphorus and calcium throughout the body. Furthermore, they report that studies have provided evidence that a sufficient amount of vitamin D in the body decreases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
• Other essential vitamins and minerals to look out for include vitamin K, calcium, iron, copper, boron, selenium and folic acid.

Conclusion

While multivitamins are often recommended to patients who have been diagnosed with arthritis, many people fail to realize that every multivitamin on the market may be different. Thus, simply recommending a multivitamin does not make sense in this case. Recommending specific vitamins that may assist with the symptoms and effects of arthritis on the body becomes a more logical step, as this allows an arthritis patient to look for a multivitamin with the specific contents their body really needs.