Ralph Carlson Blog

Prevention is better than treatment for osteoarthritis

“Prevention might be as simple as increasing daily amounts of vitamin K, either by eating green vegetables or taking supplements. Recent research from the Multi-Center Osteoarthritis study revealed that vitamin K has an important role in preventing OA. Vitamin K is necessary for a number of biochemical processes that involve bone and cartilage formation and maintenance.”

Most doctors treat osteoarthritis by reducing the symptoms and eventual joint replacement but recent studies suggest that having a sufficiency of vitamin K in your diet can significantly reduce the risk of getting osteoarthritis in the first place. Earlier I provided information about the benefits of vitamin K and the likelihood that seniors may be deficient. Vitamin K is important in managing the management of calcium in the body by keeping it out of the arteries and in the bones. Now it seems that Vitamin K is helpful in maintaining and repairing cartilage as well. [continue reading…]