Cod Liver Oil May Help Arthritis  

Cod liver oil helps slow the destruction of joint cartilage in people with osteoarthritis, say researchers at Cardiff University in Wales.

Experts say that could reduce the number of knee and hip replacements done each year and cut down on the number of people who would otherwise need other types of joint replacement surgery.

The study included 31 people in the United Kingdom who were on a national waiting listing for total knee joint replacement surgery. Half of the participants took cod liver oil and half took a placebo for 10 to 12 weeks before their surgery.

The study reports that 86 per cent of the arthritis patients who took 1,000-milligram capsules of extra-high-strength cod liver oil a day had no levels, or significantly reduced levels, of the enzymes that cause cartilage damage. That compares with 26 per cent of the arthritis patients who took a placebo oil capsule for the study.

During surgery, samples of the patients' cartilage and joint tissue were taken from the knee joint for analysis by the researchers. Those who took the cod liver oil also had a marked reduction in some of the enzymes that cause joint pain, according to the study.

"This breakthrough is hugely significant because it demonstrates the efficacy of cod liver oil in patients with osteoarthritis taken prior to their joint replacement surgery," researcher Bruce Caterson says. "The data suggests that cod liver oil had a dual mode of action, potentially slowing down the cartilage degeneration inherent in osteoarthritis and also reducing factors that cause pain and inflammation."

"What these findings suggest is that by taking cod liver oil, people are more likely to delay the onset of osteoarthritis and less likely to require multiple joint replacements later in life," he adds.

Arthritis is the leading cause of long-term disability in Canada. A report last fall titled Arthritis in Canada says that approximately one in six (or four million) Canadian adults aged 15 years and over has arthritis. Arthritis ranks second and third among the most commonly reported chronic conditions in women and men, respectively.

At $16.4 billion, musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis, are the second most costly category of diseases in Canada. The report estimates the economic cost of arthritis at $4.4 billion annually.

For more information about arthritis, visit HealthyOntario.

Making hospitals sustainable and accountable for results is a key first step in the province's plan to transform health care. The government's strategy will, for the first time, tie funding to results that matter to patients, including reducing wait times for important procedures.

"We want healthier Ontarians in a healthier Ontario. That means shorter waiting times for important procedures, more full-time nurses, and greater access to family physicians and care in the community," said Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.

From now on hospitals will be required to sign performance agreements - to be developed by the government and hospitals working together - that will spell out the expected results for patients.

"If any money is going to flow, there will be strings attached. None of this money - or any in the future - will flow to any hospital unless it commits and adheres to clear accountability requirements," Smitherman said.

The government's "change strategies" for health care include :

• A sustainable financial footing for hospitals.
• A culture of accountability and results.
• Creating strong community health care services.
• A new emphasis on preventing illness and promoting healthy living, including reducing smoking and increasing rates of physical activity.

The government will invest federal Health Accord dollars, targeted for home care, family health teams and catastrophic drug coverage, to strengthen community care.

The $385 million announced will address the operating shortfall for the past year. $320 million will be new base funding that recognizes high growth as well as additional operating costs associated with recently completed capital projects. $50 million of this will be targeted to increasing full-time nursing positions and to improve the safety and working conditions of nurses. If hospitals fail to reach targets for nursing, they could lose the funding and it would be invested in other hositals that achieved results.

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