Recent research has found that rose hips may offer an effective treatment for both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. Trials have been done in Denmark, and Germany using a supplement containing dried rose hip powder, the supplement goes by the name of LitoZin, which contains the active ingredient GOPO. GOPO a type of fatty acid has been found to have similar anti-inflammatory properties as fish oil.
The team which conducted the study, led by Dr Robin Christensen, of the Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen, believes the powder works by also tackling the inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.The researchers who conducted the trial in Copenhagen and Berlin said they were surprised by the results, since RA is a far more serious and challenging disease than osteoarthritis.
A joint study done in Denmark and Germany consisted of 89 mostly female patients, average age of 57, the patients were all severely affected with rheumatoid arthritis and all were being treated with conventional drugs. All patients who remained in the study experienced a significant improvement after taking the supplement for six months.
In a Norwegian study, patients who were scheduled for a hip or knee replacement due to osteoarthritis experienced a reduction in the limitations of freedom of movement by about 40 per cent, plus a reduction of pain after four months on LitoZin. They were also able to reduce the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
