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Cherries offer relief from osteoarthritis pain
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It’s a cherry of a deal: tart cherries, in supplement form, may provide pain relief for the most common type of arthritis.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, an estimated 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, and about 1.5 million of them reside in the area served by the Greater Southwest Arthritis Foundation in Phoenix.
But if the researchers from Baylor Research Institute are correct, a supplement made from ground up whole Montmorency tart cherries, and served up in a soft gelatin capsule, may control the pain associated with osteoarthritis. More than 50 percent of the patients who participated in the pilot study experienced a significant improvement in function and pain after taking the tart cherry supplement for eight weeks.
Previous research showed that substances in tart cherries called anthocyanins are antioxidants and can prevent damage caused by free radicals. They also can inhibit the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 and -2, which cause inflammation, a major cause of pain in osteoarthritis.
Unlike conventional treatment for osteoarthritis, which includes over-the-counter acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, along with prescription pain killers, the cherry pills are not associated with potential gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, renal, and liver toxicity.
To test the efficacy of tart cherry supplements further, Baylor Research Institute and the Arthritis Care & Research Institute are currently enrolling patients to participate in an eight-week double-blind study.
Currently tart cherry supplements are available from CherryFlex, Fruit Advantage, and other manufacturers.
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