The NHS describes osteoarthritis as affecting the ‘smooth cartilage of the joint. This makes movement more difficult than usual, which leads to pain and stiffness. They added: “Once the cartilage sheath begins to thicken and thin, the tendons and ligaments need to work harder. This can cause swelling and the formation of bone spines called osteophytes. The most common joints affected by osteoarthritis in the body include the arms, spine, thighs and knees. Osteoarthritis affects around nine million people in the UK, making a recent potential breakthrough in seismic treatment.
Researchers at Soochow University in China have found that the sleep hormone melatonin can be used to treat or even treat osteoarthritis.
Melatonin has been shown in the past to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which is useful in the treatment of arthritis.
Researchers at Soochow recently published a study showing how melatonin can prevent the breakdown of existing cartilage and promote the growth of new cartilage.
While positive, one caveat is that the study was conducted on rabbits, not humans; however, if the same results appear in human studies, it could change the lives of millions of patients with osteoarthritis worldwide.
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Publishing their findings in the journal Aging Research Reviews, the team behind the study said their findings confirmed that “melatonin may be a prospective treatment for osteoarthritis.”
Speaking in response to the study, Professor Lila Biant of the University of Manchester said: “All cells, including cartilage cells, have a circadian rhythm of rest, recovery and work.
“Melatonin can affect the circadian rhythm of cells, as well as affect our sleep pattern. Although this research is preliminary, it could be a promising path for further investigation. “
As a result, more research is needed to fully confirm the link between melatonin and improvement in patients with osteoarthritis.
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