PITTSBURGH -- Dr. Krohn, a Mercy Hospital rheumatologist, encourages his patients to take the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin.

ALTERNATIVE PAIN RELIEF Are All Fish Oils Created Equal? Mercy Doctor Feels His Patients' Pain Acupuncture Benefits Knee Osteoarthritis Glucosamine & Chondroitin FDA.gov Arthritis.org MercyLink.org Inflammation Solutions.com National Institutes of Health

“There have been a number of studies, mostly in Europe that show, they help the symptoms of osteoarthritis. They help about as much as an anti-inflammatory like Motrin or Ibuprofen or Vioxx type medicine, but they might slow down the progression of the loss of cartilage," Krohn said.

Because there is no FDA oversight of the supplements, he warns his patients to look at the manufacturing standards of the products.

There is another challenge with the supplements.

Krohn said, “We really don’t have good evidence to tell people what dose to use. My general recommendation is to follow the directions on the bottle which usually means 2 to 3 capsules a day.”

Krohn doesn’t just tell patients to take the supplements, he takes it himself.

“I take it myself. Not so much because my knee hurts, but because I really have hoped it’s slowing down deterioration of cartilage," he said.

You should always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

For more information on supplements go to:

FDA.gov

Arthritis.org