The use of nutraceuticals in regenerative matrix repair in knee and hip osteoarthritis

Nutraceuticals to facilitate the regenerative process, after the use of matrix or stem cell applications in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is examined. Proinflammatory cytokines have been extensively studied in various disease models. Recombinant technology in single cytokine modulation has been utilized for various Rheumatologic disease states, incorporating blockade of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), interleukin 1- beta (IL1-b), and interleukin 1-6 (IL-6). The efficacy of mono cytokine inhibition on knee osteoarthritis (OA) has failed to demonstrate. This is long known to be the case in the well demonstrated progressive nature of knee OA, with downstream inhibition of PGE2 with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). The use of Regenerative therapies incorporating biological scaffolds, growth factors, and mesenchymal stem cell implants may provide a more comprehensive cell signalling inhibitory pathway. A combination approach, incorporating nutraceuticals based upon clinical laboratory studies, may reflect a possible synergistic mechanism to regenerative therapies. Knowledge of the cytokine modulatory capacity of nutraceuticals can be a useful adjuvant strategy in vivo to enhance regenerative capacity.