Monday, August 06, 2007

Olive extract may improve quality of life for arthritis sufferers

Supplementation with an olive extract decreased pain and inflammation, and improved the quality of life of people suffering from osteoarthritis, claims a new study in the journal Nutrition Research.

"An 8-week treatment with olive extract improved daily living activities in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and significantly reduced plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and homocysteine levels in patients with and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)," wrote lead author Catherine Bitler.


The new double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study recruited 90 people (age range 55 to 75, average BMI 27.9 kg per sq. m) to receive either 400 mg of freeze-dried olive vegetation water (OVW) per day or placebo for eight weeks. Blood samples were taken in order to measure a variety of biochemical markers.

Bitler and co-workers report that the RA subjects receiving the olive extract had significantly lower homocysteine levels than the placebo group.

C-reactive protein (CRP) levels decreased by about 50 per cent as a result of olive extract supplementation, while CRP levels in the placebo group increased.

Bonnie - olive leaf extract is in Metagenics Kaprex, one of the main supplements we suggest for osteoarthritis. In addition, eating olives and extra virgin olive oil is a no brainer!

No comments: