DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND HERBAL PREPARATIONS AS A SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS WITH SOME TYPE OF ARTHRITIS

Introduction: It is estimated that today 54 million people in the world live with some type of arthritis. The three most common forms of arthritis are infectious, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Although disease occurs most commonly in the old age, rheumatoid arthritis can affect people in the most productive period of life, between ages of 20 and 40. First line of medical treatment for this disease are anti-inflammatory drugs, but corticosteroids and antibiotics are also used very commonly, along with various measures of physical medicine. Dietary supplements and herbal preparations are used only sporadically, despite accumulated evidence of their beneficial effect on arthritis symptoms. The aim of paper: The aim of the paper was to collect and analyse literature data on dietary supplements and herbal preparations in support of arthritis treatment. Results: Herbal preparations based on willow, red pepper and most recently, turmeric show potential in the treatment of arthritis. Dietary supplements as antioxidants (vitamins C and E, minerals zinc and selenium), chondroitin, glucosamine, collagen and hyaluronic acid also show positive effects. In addition, numerous food ingredients poses anti-inflammatory effects, such as acetylsalicylic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols and flavonoids. These research findings suggest that a proper food selection and menu planning, combined with some of the aforementioned could affect the symptoms and progression of the disease. Conclusion: Although medical treatment is still the first choice for people with arthritis, accumulating evidence supports the use of various dietary supplements and herbal preparations to alleviate symptoms of arthritis. Additionally, given that many foods contain ingredients with potent anti-inflammatory characteristics, proper food selection could add the additive effect and improve quality of life of people with arthritis