As of late, dietary supplements have been touted in stories by BBC News, the LA Times and other mainstream news sources as possible sources of pain relief. Cod Liver Oil, Cat’s Claw, CosaminDS and Glucosamin/Chondoitin have all been featured in recent stories in the press reporting their possible benefits for arthritis sufferers. It is important, however, that research linking many supplements to their intended use is often in its infancy and proper precautions should be taken before buying into the latest supplement fads.

Currently, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not analyze the content of dietary supplements. Also, the FDA does not require research studies that prove a supplement’s effectiveness, unlike for drugs. This means that, for the consumer, what is in the bottle may not always match what is on the label. Any given supplement may not contain the correct ingredient, or may contain higher or lower amounts of its purported active ingredient.

Keeping this in mind, research is key before taking a supplement. First and foremost, it is important to talk to your health care provider about the supplement(s) you are interested in. Even if your health provider does not know about the supplement(s) in question when initially asked, your provider does have access to the latest medical information regarding its uses and risks. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), it is especially important to talk to your provider if you:

• Are thinking about replacing your regular medical care with one or more supplements.
• Are taking any medications whatsoever since some supplements have been found to interact with medications.
• Have a chronic medical condition.
• Are planning to have surgery.
• Are pregnant or nursing a baby.
• Are thinking about giving a supplement to a child.

If you wish to do more research on your own, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the NIH, has free publications, clearinghouses, and databases that house scientific studies and information on supplements.

References:National Institute of Health website: http://www.nih.gov; National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine - Supplements section: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements.htm; LATimes.com, BBC News