Arthritis: More shocking statistics on painkillers

I knew it was bad, but I didnt know it was this bad.

In previous e-alerts Ive written about the dangers of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - over- the- counter painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. But just today I came across a commentary about NSAIDs published in a 2001 issue of the US journal Clinical Cornerstone.

And heres the statistic I found surprising: Well over 100,000 hospitalisations per year are attributed to upper gastrointestinal adverse events associated with long-term NSAIDs use. But this statistic is positively shocking: About 15 percent of those patients die as a result of their adverse reactions.

Thats right: An estimated 16,500 deaths in the US alone are directly linked to long-term NSAID use every year.

Here in the UK, scientists at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford claim that the risk of death among long-term NSAID users is about 1 in 2,000.  This equates to approximately 2,000 deaths linked to NSAID use a year.

And yet, as bad as this situation was assessed to be, a new study shows that it may be even worse.

If you know anyone who recently stopped using the drugs Vioxx or Celebrex and switched to NSAIDs use on a regular basis, this is an e-alert they cant afford to miss.

Inside peek

The frequency and severity of small intestine lesions caused by NSAIDs use is unclear. In the January 2005 issue of the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in the US report on a study that assessed how much damage may be caused by persistent use of these drugs.

The researchers recruited 21 men and women (their average age was about 50) who had different types of arthritis. All of these subjects had used NSAIDs daily for at least three months. A control group of 20 subjects who didnt use NSAIDs was also recruited.

All of the subjects underwent video capsule endoscopy. This is a unique internal imaging system that requires the patient to swallow a capsule that contains a miniature camera. As the capsule passes through the small intestine, the video reveals polyps, lesions, erosions and ulcers that other tests usually miss. Each video was reviewed by two investigators who were not aware of any subjects NSAIDs use.

The results were conclusive. More than 70 percent of the NSAIDs users had some type of bowel injury (ranging from minor erosions to significant ulcers), while only 10 percent in the control group showed injury. Five subjects in the NSAIDs group had major damage. No major damage was reported in the control group.

In their conclusions, the Baylor team wrote, Small-intestinal mucosal injury is very common among chronic NSAID users.

Heavy on the heart

This is a tough time for people who suffer from arthritis. Vioxx was recently taken off the market because cumulative research linked the drug to a high risk of heart attacks and strokes. A recent study showed that Celebrex may also increase heart attack risk. And another study that compared Aleve (the brand name of naproxen) to Celebrex was halted, citing evidence that Aleve may trigger heart attacks and strokes.

So where can arthritis patients turn? Heres a quick rundown of three natural treatments that dont put patients at risk of life-threatening side effects.

COD LIVER OIL: Research that shows how cod liver oil may reverse the actions of the enzymes that break down cartilage. In fact, studies suggest that taking cod liver oil can even prevent the development of arthritis, while reducing symptoms in those already afflicted with the disease.

ACUPUNCTURE: In a previous e-alert, I told you about a study of 570 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Among the subjects who were treated with acupuncture, 40 percent reported reduced pain. These subjects also had significant improvements in knee mobility and function.

NICOTINAMIDE: In a US National Institutes of Health study, this anti-inflammatory nutrient (a derivative of niacin - also known as vitamin B3) relieved arthritis pain by almost 30 percent and improved range of motion and flexibility in joints.

These natural treatments are just three that stand out. Over the years, HSI has written about several safe alternatives to NSAIDs. In the past, weve told you about the topical deep-tissue oil Pain Away, a formula that combines 12 proven painkillers. Plus we covered a report on Ayurvedic herbal formulas like Boswellia, an anti-inflammatory. And in a previous e-alert, I told you about Lyprinol, a natural remedy proven to inhibit one of the biochemical pathways required for inflammatory response.

.. and another thing

The milk industry and the US Department of Agriculture have done such a good job of scaring the public away from raw milk products that for many people the truth just doesnt compute.

In a past e-alert, HSI Panellist Dr Allan Spreen, was quoted as writing, It was consistently shown that there were fewer bacteria in raw milk than the pasteurised variety.

Dr. Spreens source for that surprising fact comes from Mathis Dairy in the US. Dr. Spreen explains: Mathis Dairy was hounded (mercilessly) by the conventional dairy lobby in Georgia until their raw milk business was outlawed. They consistently showed (and had to during the fight) that pasteurised milk was not bacteria-free, and their certified raw milk (due to vastly more stringent dairy procedures) had a lower bacteria count.

But thats not the only source for that bacteria comparison.
Dr. Spreen has often referred to the work and writings of Sally Fallon, a nutrition researcher who founded the Weston A. Price Foundation and A Campaign for Real Milk. On that campaigns web site (realmilk.com) she writes, The overall bacteria count of milk produced under clean conditions is much lower than that of pasteurised milk.

In addition, Ms. Fallon notes that raw milk bacteria are the healthy bacteria of lactic-acid fermentation. She describes the bacteria in pasteurised milk as the bacteria of spoilage.

Thats the word of an internationally respected milk researcher. Enough said!