Shark cartilage tablets

[sandyf]

Hi all. Someone has recommended shark cartilage tablets to help joints. I wondered if anyone else has tried them. I take hydroychloroquine and enbrel but joints are still terrible.

[angel-delight]

Hi, I haven't heard of these but would be interested in the responses to your post. I have been on both medication and have had one infusion of Toci back in June. I am waiting to see the specialist nurse as I have just returned from my trip to Canada.

Wishing you well. Sue

[sandyf in reply to angel-delight]

Thank you Sue, you too

[allanah]

Always check with the rheumies as some drugs can stop your RA drugs working x

[sandyf in reply to allanah]

Thanks Allanah, I will try but my rheumy's are terrible to get hold off, even the nurse at the docs tried to get through them friday to no avail. Hate the feeling of no support especially when I have been so poorly on enbrel for last month.

[allanah in reply to sandyf]

Oh that must be really awful. I'm lucky our reply that afternoon, but do persevere and whilst you have hold of them get a list of other questions too!!!! Good luck and let us know what they say . And ps sharks are endangered now , but NRAS do a great booklet on alternative medicines if you contact them. It says what the research is into each one. If I remember rightly fish oils were good.

[helixhelix]

My concern would be whether it's causing more problems with overfishing of sharks. Look up how shark are fished for shark fin soup, and maybe you won't feel that you want to encourage this.

[sandyf in reply to helixhelix]

yes I will do some research on that, thank you

[nomoreheels]

There's very little scientific evidence that they do anything at all, sketchy at best so I'd save your money & trust in your Rheumy's prescribing or ask for an appointment to review your meds. I understand how sometimes we'd like to help ourselves & have some control by supplementing what we need to take but I don't think sharks cartilage is a particularly cheap option compared to something like omega 3 fish oil, which does have proven properties & which my Rheumy approves of. According to Arthritis Reasearch recent evidence shows omega 3 fatty acids can also help even if your taking DMARDs including MTX.

If you'd like to read further on recommended supplements for RD &

OA you'll find some info here arthritisresearchuk.org/art... & here nras.org.uk/diet-rheumatoid...

[sandyf in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you very much for that, much appreciated

[nomoreheels in reply to sandyf]

You're welcome. I should have added that it's always best to check with your Rheumy any proposed supplements you are thinking might be of benefit, vitamins as well as some are known to interact with our meds.

[Hidden]

I have heard that this has no effect and I honk the Sharks prefer to have their cartilage. Cheers Doreen

[Don122 in reply to Hidden]

Agree. Cartilage supplements from any source sound good but are nonsense.

[hawker955]

Sorry, but there is no independent evidence that glucosamine, eg from shark cartilage makes joint cartilage heal. No more than eating hair-clippings after a hair-cut makes a bald man less bald. As for shark cartilage soecifically, I am going to get on my soapbox here because I have advisedfor a long time now people not to buy anything with shark cartilage, ever since WWF highlighted the devastating effects o shark populations in the oceans. ; Worldwide, sharks are endangered and use of their cartilage only increases the pressure on the species. I would no more like to see people eating giant Pandas or Tigers for the same reason. There arealways other options. Every year it is thought 100 million sharks are killed mainly for the fins for soup but using them for medicine is unjustifiable and bad for the species as a whole. Sorry, but I feel strongly about this.

[sandyf in reply to hawker955]

Sorry didn't mean to upset anyone by asking the question. After 2 weeks of being severely poorly I was desperate for help, luckily I now have an urgent appt with rheumatologist today.