The "natural" supplement Phytalgic® both improves symptoms of osteoarthritis and reduces the need for NSAID pain relievers, say the French scientists publishing their work in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Osteoarthritis is progressive form of arthritis characterized by damage to the cartilage in joints. Cartilage is made up of protein and serves to cushion and lubricate your body's joints. But this cartilage can become damaged and when it does, the pain, stiffness and inflammation can become debilitating. Most osteoarthritis treatments focus on reducing pain and inflammation.

Now, the developers of Phytalgic® say that regular use of the supplement enabled arthritis sufferers go lower their intake of pain killers from an average of 19 tablets per week to an average of 6 or 7 tablets per week.

Source: Jacquet, A., et al. (2010). Phytalgic®, a food supplement, vs placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Phytalgic is a food supplement containing a blend of the purest omega-3 fish oils, nettle extract, vitamin E and zinc. The fish oils used come exclusively from wild fish caught along the Chilean coast and have an omega 3 content of over 60%. Many scientific studies have shown that fish oils can benefit a range of conditions including osteoarthritis because of their anti-inflammatory properties. The nettle extract comes from the leaves of edible plants and is naturally high in silicon - this gives it protective properties, helping to keep bones and joints strong. Zinc is also reported to ease the pain of sensitive joints and is microencapsulated to improve stability and make it easy to digest.

We are constantly seeking out scientifically verified and medically approved products to add to our portfolio. Rarely have we found anything as exciting as Phyalgic. The evidence of its effectiveness from France is overwhelming, This is France's No.1 joint care product, available in 98% of French pharmacies. A million users in France swear by it. Now osteoarthritis sufferers in the UK will be able to benefit from Phytalgic.