Researchers at the Menzies Research Institute are launching two new osteoarthritis participant - based studies in Hobart, in search of evidence of the effectiveness of two natural remedies for the management of the disease.

Researchers at the Menzies Research Institute are launching two new osteoarthritis participant - based studies in Hobart, in search of evidence of the effectiveness of two natural remedies for the management of the disease.

Arthritis is the most common chronic health problem in Australia.

Arthritis affects over 20 per cent of the Tasmanian population; this equates to 90,000 Tasmanians.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 1.3 million Australians (1 in 10 Australians). More than 41,000 total hip and knee replacements were performed for OA in 2004-05.

The disease is uncommon before the age of 45 years and mostly affects people aged 65 years or over. It is more common in females than in males. The main symptoms are pain, stiffness and limited movement of the affected joint(s).

As part of self-management, many people with OA supplement their diet with micro or macro-nutrients, or take natural or herbal remedies. However, evidence for the

effectiveness of these supplements and natural remedies is often lacking and further research is desperately needed.

Forty-six per cent of people with OA in the ABS 2004-2005 National Health Survey reported taking dietary supplements or natural remedies for the condition.

Menzies' Research Fellows Professor Graeme Jones and Associate Professor Changhai Ding will lead two separate new OA participant-based studies. The first will  investigate whether taking Vitamin D supplements and the second  a natural topical treatment (derived from a comfrey extract), are effective in managing the symptoms and progress of knee joint OA.   

Professor Jones said while there was currently no cure for osteoarthritis, a great amount of effort was being directed by Menzies towards improving the wellbeing of OA sufferers.

"With limited current treatments, Menzies is setting up these studies to i determine if these therapies are effective  which will hopefully lead to an improvement in the wellbeing of osteoarthritis sufferers," Professor Jones said.

 "We hope to intervene with appropriate treatments and make a difference to the lives of those suffering from osteoarthritis," he said.

Professor Jones said the Menzies Research Institute is encouraging Tasmanians to get involved with the new studies, and help address this serious health issue here in Tasmania.

Menzies is seeking volunteers for the studies who are over the age of 50 and suffer pain from knee osteoarthritis. Anyone interested in volunteering in the Vitamin D study should contact Kay Nguo on 03 6226 7793 and Melanie Clark for the topical herbal treatment study on 03 6226 7779 to express their interest and obtain further information.

Funding bodies that supported the development of our two new participant-based osteoarthritis studies include the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Arthritis Relief Plus Ltd.

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Fiona Horwood, Communications Manager

Phone: 6226 7751 Mobile: 0409 357 384

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