Therapeutic nutraceutical treatments for osteoarthritis and ischaemia

There has been a very large increase in nutraceutical innovations, particul arly in the US regulatory marketplace. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of a group of nutraceuticals that share common biochemical pathw ays, and have shown spectacular marketplace success. These are energy metab olites and precursor molecules involved in the metabolic mechanisms of cart ilage replacement and cellular energy functions. The commercial nutraceutic als are glucosamine, ribose and their derivatives. These compounds are cons idered required nutrients for the repair of cartilage and connective tissue s and optimal cellular energy maintenance in active, middle aged individual s. The recent scientific and patent literature in this segment of the nutra ceutical marketplace is reviewed.