Cod liver oil has long been a magic liquid that has been linked to preventing and even curing various ailments ranging from depression to high cholesterol. It has been hailed as a miracle medicine but it also has quite a few critics, but despite whatever has been said, till today cod liver oil features in the morning routines of many children and adults alike.
A natural remedy
Cod liver oil has provided natural remedies for several illnesses, and another major addition has arrived in the seemingly endless list. Research has shown that the amber colored oil can also help immensely with osteoarthritis. Sufferers of this disease have a reason to rejoice because of what this study has concluded.
Osteoarthritis Patients
Studies have shown that regular intake of cod liver oil has shown significant slowing down of the destruction of the joint cartilage in sufferers of osteoarthritis. The cartilage cushions the bones; this cushion prevents the bones from grinding against each other and causing a lot of pain. The loss of this cartilage and the resulting excruciating pain is what osteoarthritis sufferers have to endure. A large number of elderly individuals suffer from this pain and this disease is the main reason for needing a joint replacement surgery.
The Study
This study began as a search for natural remedies for this common and painful disease. Scientists tested on two groups of patients suffering from osteoarthritis. One group was given two capsules of cod liver oil daily and another was given a placebo. This was started twelve weeks before their knee replacement surgery was scheduled. Just before the surgery, samples were taken of the cartilage and the joint tissues and were analyzed.
The Result
The analysis found that 86 percent of patients who took the cod liver oil capsules daily had significantly lower or the absence of enzymes that caused cartilage damage compared with only 26 percent of patients who were given the placebo. There was also a significant reduction in the enzymes that caused joint pain in the patients who were given the cod liver oil capsules.
The Impact
This research will prove to be a huge boon for the millions who suffer from this painful disease. Scientists predict that this research will help to actually reduce the number of joint replacement surgeries that are required per year. This will also shorten the waiting list for such surgeries, resulting in a lesser waiting period for patients who really need it. The oil will help reduce the pain and suffering of innumerable patients. Surgery is usually the last resort that patients go to when the pain becomes unbearable. With cod liver oil to help manage the pain and degeneration of cartilage, fewer patients will opt for surgery.
As more and more research is being done for this oil, the results keep pointing towards how beneficial it is for people of all ages. However, one cause of concern is that the rising level of pollution in the oceans is causing the quality of cod liver oil to degrade. So it is always advisable to only taken supplements that are approved by doctors and health boards.