Better Bones with Boswellia... New studies indicate this simple herb may help osteoarthritis suffers

The herb Boswellia Serrata (which is actually a source of the somewhat 'mythical' frankincense) has been studied widely of late and has been found to contain several unique anti-inflamatory properties.

The active ingredient in Boswellia is 5-Loxin and as a proprietary extract, has been shown to significantly reduce the painful inflammatory symptoms associated with Knee osteoarthritis.

Most pharmaceutical drugs aimed at reducing this type of inflammation target what are called the Cox-1 and Cox-2 inhibitors - these are groups of enzymes which stir up inflammation and therefore pain. The 5-Loxin substance found in Boswellia appears to act in the same way on these same enzyme groups to reduce their activity and thus reduce inflammation.

In a recent study in the US, 75 patients suffering with acute osteoarthritis of the knee joints were given 100mg or 250mg of Boswellia as 5-Loxin or a placebo. Results showed that both dosages of 5-Loxin led to significant and measurable reduction in pain and importantly this allowed greater mobility. It was also found that the patients taking the higher dose (250mg) of 5-Loxin showed benefits from the supplement much faster and with greater cessation of pain and discomfort in a shorter period from onset.

It was also discovered that the Boswellia extract appeared to have an effect on the enzyme Matrix Metalloprotienase which, in knee joints, is involved in the breakdown and renewal of cartilage and synovial fluid. 

Vitamin D Supplementation... Your own personal little ray of sunshine!

Vitamin D has always been known for its role in the utilisation of Calcium and bone health. Now new research seem to be supporting the role of Vitamin D in the protection against heart attacks and strokes too.

This certainly makes Vitamin D (also known as the sunshine vitamin as we can get a good dose daily from simple exposure to the sun and it's UV Rays) a must for anyone and everyone conscious of their heart health

Researchers also found those with low blood levels of the sunshine vitamin were twice as likely to suffer heart failure, a heart attack or a stroke than those with higher levels.

The risk was still 62 per cent after adjusting for well-established risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Dr Thomas Wang, who led the research, said: 'Our data raise the possibility that treating vitamin D deficiency, via supplementation or lifestyle measures, could reduce cardiovascular risk.'

The five-year study, published in the respected medical journal 'Circulation', involved 1,700 sons and daughters of the participants in the Framingham Heart Study, a major investigation of heart disease risk factors launched in 1948.

Most of the body's supply is provided by sunlight on the skin. The rest comes from foods such as fish, eggs and fortified milk and breakfast cereals.

The mechanism by which it works is only partly understood, but Vitamin D has been shown to slow the rate of growth of cancer cells and may boost the function of blood vessels or the immune system.

Although most of those living in northern Europe are not sufficiently lacking in vitamin D to be classified as deficient, some experts believe blood levels should be higher to optimise health.

Only 10 per cent of the study sample had levels considered ideal even for bone health.

A spokesman for the Health Supplements Information Service said: 'Dietary surveys show that large numbers of people in Northern climates, including Britain, have blood levels of vitamin D which are too low'.

'Diet does not provide enough vitamin D and the need for each of us to expose our skin to sunlight for short periods of time to make it runs contrary to advice to avoid sunbathing to the reduce risk of skin cancer'.

'Confusing messages, combined with seasonal variation in the strength of UV radiation, geographic-latitude, time of day, cloud cover and use of sunscreen merge to hamper reliable vitamin D synthesis'.

Because of these unstable factors and the negative warning surrounding UV exposure brings many people to the conclusion that now is the time for Vitamin D supplementation on a daily basis. Most nutritionists and Nutritional Health professionals would support this as Vitamin D is quite difficult to obtain from diet alone. However, like all nutritional supplement regimes, it is always wise to get good advice from your nutritionist or GP first to make sure you actually need it or are in a deficiency risk category.