Oral Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Supplementation (Bone and Joint Health) (Report‪)‬

As our population has aged and become more overweight, and the impact of sport takes its toll, the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) has increased significantly. It is expected that this trend will continue in the foreseeable future. For those affected with arthritis, their quality of life often declines. Pain, stiffness and inflammation can lead to decreased voluntary activities, such as exercise or recreational endeavours. This indirectly results in a host of conditions including depression, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, work and/or relationship problems, among many others. For most people, life is just not as enjoyable with OA. Osteoarthritis is a dynamic process that may progress episodically. It remains unclear what triggers the onset of the disease and its course cannot be reliably predicted. Its etiology is multifactorial and can include both systemic and local biomechanical factors. (1) Risk factors such as age, sex, trauma, overuse, genetics and obesity can all contribute to the injury process. Such risk factors can serve as initiators that promote abnormal biochemical processes involving the cartilage, bone and synovium, which, during a period of years may result in the characteristic features of OA. The good news is that the high prevalence of arthritis has led to increased awareness and greater research efforts. New treatment options have become available that allow for improvement in pain, function and inflammation while having a better safety profile compared with earlier treatments.