Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that causes pain and swelling in the joints, and from which today there is no cure.

But a few days ago, scientists said that just one glass of milk every day is a possible way to slow the progression of osteoarthritis.

An article published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, published by the American College of Rheumatology, says that in women who eat low-fat or low-fat milk every day, osteoarthritis of the knee joints progresses more slowly.

But those who eat cheese, the symptoms of the disease develop faster.

Scientists note that these results do not apply to men, and the use of yogurt has no effect on the rate of osteoarthritis.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that osteoarthritis is characterized by degeneration of the cartilaginous tissue in the joint, which is caused by some "mechanical or molecular phenomena in the affected joint".

In other words, the exact causes of osteoarthritis are still insufficiently studied. Therefore, the treatment of osteoarthritis is primarily aimed at alleviating the symptoms and improving the function of the joint - physiotherapy, body weight control, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc..

According to the US CCD, in 2005, approximately 27 million Americans over the age of 25 suffered from osteoarthritis.

The authors of the new study say that the use of milk has long been considered useful for bone health, but its effect on the state of cartilaginous tissue and the progression of osteoarthritis has not been studied.

Therefore, lead researcher Dr. Bing Lu and his colleagues from the Brigham Women's Hospital in Boston decided to conduct their own major work devoted to this issue.

A total of 2,148 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joints were included in the study (the total number of affected joints was 3,064). This group took part in the Osteoarthritis Initiative. After collecting data on participants' diets, the researchers measured the height of the joint gap with an X-ray.

Subjects of the study - 888 men and 1 260 women - were observed for 2 years with repeated measurements of the height of the joint gap at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months after the start of the study. At this time, a team of scientists evaluated the milk consumption according to the standard questionnaire Block Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire.

A few facts about osteoarthritis.

• By the age of 85 every second person suffers from OA.

• 2 out of 3 obese people develop osteoarthritis.

• In the US, 27 million adults suffer from osteoarthritis.

Researchers have found that in women with an increase of milk consumption (0-1 to 3 or 7 4-6 glasses per week) reducing the height of the joint space slowed (0.38 mm, 0.29 mm and 0.26 mm, respectively).

medbe. en.