Most often osteoarthritis is related to the natural process of wear of the cartilage, but when does the pain appear?

People who have osteoarthritis start complaining of pain around the age of 60 but OA started well before! The cartilage wears away slowly, over the years, it is a silent process at the beginning. In fact, when the pain themselves, it is already well advanced. The back or neck, can become painful earlier, around 50-55 years. But it also depends on people. Some families are more affected than others. People who have difficult jobs or who have suffered injuries and operations, this may be much more young again, 40 years!

When pain is on the joints, is it necessarily osteoarthritis?

Not of course! There are many other joint diseases that may be the source of pain. Osteoarthritis initially occurs rather when it is run, that is forced or joint that is sport. The pain is stronger at night and subsides at rest. On the contrary, a pain that manifests itself during the night and leaving very stiff joints, until later in the morning, suggests more to arthritis which is an acute joint inflammation. There, the joint is hot, red. If in doubt, further medical tests allow to distinguish and to identify other joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What does do to preserve their joints?

Prevent osteoarthritis is indeed not possible in the strict sense of the term, but regularly play sports throughout his life to keep joints healthy. That they continue to work well, should they work regularly. Walking, swimming, but also water aerobics and stretching are excellent. This is not the case of cycling, too painful for the dos for example... because there absolutely save her joints! Avoid wearing heavy loads but also all the bad positions that promote particular back pain. Stand straight when you are sitting, sleeping on the side with a bent knee to relieve the lumbar vertebrae. When it is down, it is essential to well to bend the knees. And then, to watch his weight to bear excessive pressure to the joints of the knees and hips... but this is also true for stay healthy in general!

Are these tips also apply when you already have osteoarthritis?

Of course. Do not stop using his joints when they become painful, although on the contrary. The muscles should stay tonic: it is they who draw on the joints and cause movement. We must therefore keep a maximum of mobility and continue its activities normally.
It is recommended to wear shoes with thick soles to absorb shocks, and relieve the joints. The power supply also has its role to play. Intakes of vitamins, trace elements and antioxidants are very important to preserve the joints. Avoid bad positions, the backlash of joints, maintain muscles and joints and lose weight, it is vital.

What are drugs that relieve?

Initially, acetaminophen relieves pain and inflammation. Then, it is necessary sometimes to anti-inflammatories (steroidal) or even to corticosteroid infiltration, when the disease progresses. Since more recently also been injections of hyaluronic acid which is a protein of cartilage. These injections can increase the visco-elasticity of cartilage. The results look promising for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Analgesic consumption would be diminished after only a week. This seems more effective if osteoarthritis is not too advanced. But no study exists with regard to the effects on the natural evolution.

And physical therapy?

It is a very important help that should not be overlooked. It should not hesitate to seek assistance when you get too bothered in everyday life. Rehabilitation to regain mobility, maintain the joints and muscles. Brief to truly work joints... what tends to avoid when one suffers, of course. However, it is essential. And then, this also often helps people to relax and to better manage pain.

What do you think of glucosamine?

I recommend to use it, Yes, because studies show that we obtain with this treatment of very good results. It is a product over-the-counter without a prescription in pharmacies under the brand name Cartilamine ®. Attack treatment, need to take 500mg 4 times per day for 2-3 months and then in maintenance treatment, reducing the dose to 2x500mg/day. Here too, the main interest is to repair cartilage.


You can also wear orthotics and orthotic insoles if the pain is located on the heel joints to ease the pain.

Plantar fasciitis is very much avoidable even though our tissues and muscles weaken with age you still dont have to run the risk of damaging the plantar fascia and getting plantar fasciitis as a result not if you wear plantar fasciitis insoles to combat this problem instead. That is right if you wear a pair of plantar fasciitis insoles you can actually stop the problem all together and risk of getting plantar fasciitis. All because a pair of orthotic insoles will better protect your feet from the effects and increased risk of damaging of the plantar fascia brought on by ageing.

the insoles help to support your feet in the natural position because they have arch supports and unlike regular insoles are not flat... you will be able to now walk and stand for long periods of time without discomfort  Any one can wear them at any age and the sooner you start wearing them the better!

Nutrigenetics can help prevent the development of many diseases such as osteoporosis, which involves - among others - the vitamin D receptor polymorphism. The latter intervenes in the metabolism of calcium by the body making it essential to the construction of the bones and gives it a major role in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Vitamin D receptor polymorphism
The gene allowing to "make" the vitamin D receptor exists in several forms. Indeed, researchers have identified two different alleles called b or B. Some studies have highlighted that individuals with allele B have more risk of osteoporosis. In 2000, Danish researchers compared two groups of people with or without osteoporosis. They then noticed that B/B and B/b genotypes were most commonly associated with the risk of osteoporosis. Conversely b/b genotype would seem to 'protect' of this disease. "But this genotype does not allow him alone to predict the risk of osteoporosis, said Dr. Baranova, should look at associations between genes and watch their expression.
In the case of osteoporosis researchers analyzing therefore firstly vitamin D receptor polymorphism but they also look the genes involved in the synthesis of the estrogen receptor and collagen. "Analysis of these three groups of genes to have a more precise idea of the susceptibility of the patient to osteoporosis," says the researcher. So far only genetic analysis is not enough, it must also look at the way of life and the environment of the patient. "If we consider two women with the same profile for these groups of genes but only one practice regular physical activity and eat in a balanced way while the other does not sport and eat poorly, their risk of osteoporosis will be not the same", she explains.

Can we rely on the genetic profile to try to prevent the loss of bone density? "Yes you can use it, replied the expert. If it identifies a patient at risk on the basis of his DNA profile, can supplement it with vitamin D, calcium but also manganese, boron and magnesium to prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. »

DNA metabolism
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the support of genetic information. It is a very long molecule compacted in the form of chromosomes and consist of genes. These genes can exist in different forms called alleles, polymorphisms.
The genetic information carried by DNA is translated into RNA and then expressed as proteins such as for example the enzymes necessary for metabolism. According to the alleles that we possess, we produce therefore not all of the same proteins in the same quantities, which explains that metabolism differs from one individual to another.

Many Internet site already offer services of Nutrigenetics.

In Exchange for several hundred euros these sites offer an analysis of your genome and tailored dietary advice.

Problem: these services are far from being satisfactory.

If you intend to establish your genetic profile you see quickly that some companies offer Internet direct access online to a genetic screening to promote the adoption of a diet tailored to your genetic heritage. For sums ranging from 100 to 1200 $, these companies are developing sensible nutritional advice refer you in your food choices. But the Canadian nutritionist Julie Robitaille, who dealt with this offer depicts a not always transparent market and warns users in an article published in May 2007 by the Observatory of genetics. "These services are offered without consultation with a health professional and their access is aberrant simplicity: a single mouse click, a credit card and the round is played.

A survey conducted in July 2006 on these services by a U.S. Senate Committee revealed practices more than doubtful: "It appeared that the recommendations were not based on the genetic profile of the consumer but rather on current nutrition recommendations for the general population." The same investigation to discover errors in the analysis of DNA samples. A good scam?


"Genetic mapping must always be accompanied by a medical consultation and biological assays," warns Dr. Christophe De Jaeger who consults to the prevention of ageing Centre in Paris (read interview). The safest way is to apply to a recognized centre. To learn the names of physicians trained in this discipline you, you can ask the European Institute of personalized prevention

Tell me what is your genetic heritage, I will tell you what you need to eat. Finally it will tell you maybe in a few decades... Because if the Nutrigenomics is potentially revolutionary promises in the field of nutrition, its practical application is not for tomorrow as we explained the Claudine Junien geneticist, researcher at the national Institute of health and medical research.

And Nutrigenetics in all this?
And the Nutrigenetics is different? Yes it is different, and should not be confused. As explains Claudine Junien, the Nutrigenetics corresponds to a narrower field of the study of the individual genetic variability and its influence on how an individual will react to his diet.
What is exactly the Nutrigenomics? Nutritional Genomics also called Nutrigenomics studies the interactions between genes and nutrition. This discipline focuses among others on the genes involved in the absorption, transport, fate and the elimination of nutrients, and their mechanisms of action. 

A menu at... genetic map

Nutrigenomics gave birth to the concept of personalized nutrition. The initial idea is that according to our genetic heritage, we respond differently to the environment in which we live, including the food environment. Thus, if this type of power is totally harmless to you, the same diet may be deleterious to your neighbor who doesn't have the same genes as you. Therefore detailed dietary recommendations that can be made for you won't necessarily valid for your neighbour, and vice versa.

An example? You want to lower your cholesterol. Your neighbor also. You then follow a specific diet. Your neighbor also. After a few months of this scheme you can see a dramatic reduction of your cholesterol levels. Your neighbor not... «It is there that it would be interesting to determine the variants of genes that trigger the positive reaction,"said Claudine Junien.» This would provide dietary advice to people most likely to benefit. »

From there to imagine a ultra nutrition custom with a menu suited to each on the basis of genetic and epigenetic gene changes there is only one step...

So dreams are already of the slimming diet à la carte: I would like to lose 5 pounds, I have such and such gene in such form, advise me. Yes ofcourse, then for you the best diet is a diet low in carbohydrates and rich in polyunsaturated fats. On the other hand, your neighbor that has a very different genetic polymorphism may consume more carbohydrates but watch its saturated fat intake.

Of results in test tubes but far from our plates

Finally in reality we're really not there and this 'no' is very far from be crossed, warns the geneticist. Genetic testing, we are still at the stage of clearing. It is absolutely not realistic to think that soon, or even even one day, every child will have at birth "its smart card" containing his DNA profile. That there is still science fiction. «From the 30,000 genes that may have 10 to 100 mutations each, it is indeed impossible to test and predict all possible combinations ", explains the specialist. So beware Internet sites that offer you for a few hundred or even thousands of dollars to your genetic profile and give you recommendations that go with... "Although that based on seemingly credible scientific data, these tests explore that some polymorphisms of DNA, i.e. the part of the iceberg, says the geneticist". They are therefore very incomplete since they ignore Epigenetics and the environment and they do not make recommendations.

"On the other hand, tests targeted at specific genes involved in the response to intervention offer hope", said Claudine Junien. They would know precisely what are for example the metabolic pathways or disrupted systems and therefore to choose therapies or regimes much more targeted for the sick.

So will the Nutrigenomics dictate our menus of tomorrow? For scientists it is a way of exciting research, but it is not there yet. Day after tomorrow perhaps...

nutrigenetics future of nutrition

In recent years, the development of medicine and computing capabilities allowed breakthroughs in the field of genetics. The research was therefore identify more in addition to genes that influence the risk of many diseases. It was no less needed to see dangling the concept of a next new medicine, personalized medicine based on our own genetics which would better prevent diseases and better treat them by adapting treatment.
Harvard University researchers recently showed that those hopes would probably never become reality.

They conducted a single study of its kind by analyzing the interaction between different genes and the environment for three major common diseases: the type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. To do so they have developed a statistical model that takes into account most of the potential environmental interactions with genetic factors and compared the predictive ability of the risk of becoming ill with the former statistical models which did account than genes, without influence of the environment.

Thus, cancer breast, 15 genetic variations have been recorded and retained primarily environmental factors were the age of menarche, age at first pregnancy and the number of breast cancer occurred in the family. For diabetes, 31 genetic variations have been identified and environmental factors were primarily overweight, smoking, physical activity and family history of diabetes.

The researchers then made a surprising discovery: the ability to predict the risk of these diseases, taking into account the environmental risk factors, is only 1-3%. In other words, it is our way of life that is critical to our health, not genetics.

Hugues Aschard, one of the researchers, said: "overall, our results suggest that the complexity of genetic and environmental factors in connection with the disease should be considered a broader degree to be useful in prevention. The path to a genetic medicine of prevention, if it exists, will be very long."and his colleague Peter Kraft to add:" for most people, the tips that could give a physician for a specific disease will be exactly the same before or after seeing your genetic testing. "