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P. LALOR, Orthopaedics and Tissue Engineering, 22002 26th Avenue SE, Bldg. B, Suite 104, Bothell, WA 98021

Joint diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis afflict millions of people worldwide. The diseases generally affect the aged population, but also affect a number of younger people below the age of 65. The causes of joint disease remain elusive but progression of disease is believed to be affected by numerous biological and genetic factors, as well as the overall health, activity levels, and nutrition of the patients. Significantly, two unifying features of all joint diseases are early proteoglycan loss and cartilage degradation, that is often accompanied by pain and inflammation. This leads to a therapeutic dilemma where both prevention of cartilage damage and suppression of pain and inflammation are required for effective treatment. However, recent data has provided evidence that cartilage destruction occurs by a mechanism that is independent from that which induces inflammation. Further studies have shown that suppression of inflammation does not arrest cartilage destruction. While the majority of pharmaceuticals can modulate joint inflammation, fewer therapies affect the progression of cartilage destruction. The objective of this presentation will be to summarize our current understanding of how phytochemicals and nutrients effect cartilage metabolism, maintenance and destruction, and to discuss nutritional supplements currently being used to treat joint disease.