Using exercise and diet to reduce mild and moderate osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful condition where the cartilage in a joint degenerates. Obesity, which causes low grade inflammation in the body may worsen OA. In studies with animal models, BME researchers have shown that a diet high in fat and sugar leads to more body fat, inflammation in the knee joint and elsewhere and ultimately, joint damage and knee OA within 12 weeks.

We know that consistent exercise can control body fat and inflammation and taking supplements of prebiotic fibre can reduce body fat while increasing metabolic health in both rats and humans with obesity. UCalgary researchers have shown that aerobic exercise and prebiotic fibre supplements completely prevented development of knee OA in rats with diet-induced obesity. They are now translating this work to humans; patients with obesity who also have mild to moderate knee OA.