Restep

Description

Osteoarthritis is the most common affection of weight-bearing synovial joints, occurring especially among older people due to wear and tear. Sometimes it is called degenerative joint disease or Osteoarthrosis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and not to be confused with rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory joint disease.

Restep – Promises to Build Confidence and Restart the Step of Osteoarthritis Patients.

Composition

Each 5 gm sachet of Restep regular contains:
Glucosamine sulfate…………………500 mg
Methyl sulfonyl methane…………….500 mg
Chondroitin sulfate……………………400 mg

Indications / Benefits

Restep Regular is indicated for treatment and prophylaxis of osteoarthritis. It may be taken along with analgesics / NSAIDs initially if necessary.
Restep Regular can play a useful role in the prevention of traumatic arthritis in athletes, and others with active lifestyles.

Pack sizes

10 sachets of 5 gms each in a carton.

FAQs

1. What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common affection of weight-bearing synovial joints, occurring especially among older people due to wear and tear. Sometimes it is called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis.

2. What is a Synovial joint?
Synovial joints are all the freely movable joints of the body which have a cavity filled with lubricating synovial fluid. The other vital component of synovial joints is the cartilage that lines the bones and acts as a shock absorber during the joint movements.

3. Who can get OA?
OA is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among adults. Some younger people do get OA from a joint injury, but the disease most often afflicts the elderly. In fact, by age 65, more than half of the population has X-ray evidence of OA in at least one joint.

4. Why does OA occur?
OA, the cartilage underlying the bone is diseased. In OA, the surfaces of the cartilages break down and roughen due to aging-related wear and tear. This causes friction whilst moving the joint and this result in pain and swelling along with restriction of joint movements.

5. Which all joints does OA affect?
OA most often occurs at the ends of the fingers, thumbs, neck, lower back, knees, and hips.

6. How do you know if you have OA?
Hips: OA in the hip can cause pain, stiffness, and severe disability. People may feel the pain in their hips, or in their groin, inner thigh, or knees. Walking aids such as canes or walkers can reduce stress on the hip.
Spine: Stiffness and pain in the neck or in the lower back can result from OA of the spine. Weakness or numbness of the arms or legs can also result.

Hands: Small, bony knobs appear on the end joints of the fingers. They are called Heberden’s nodes. Similar knobs (called Bouchard’s nodes) can appear on the middle joints of the fingers. Fingers can become enlarged and gnarled and may ache or be stiff and numb. The base of the thumb joint is also commonly affected by osteoarthritis.

Knees: The knees are the body’s primary weight-bearing joints. For this reason, they are among the joints most commonly affected by OA. They may be stiff, swollen, and painful, making it hard to walk, climb, get in and out of chairs, and use bathtubs.

7. What are the warning signs of OA?
The symptoms of OA include :

1. Steady or intermittent pain in a joint.
2. Stiffness after getting out of bed
3. Joint swelling or tenderness in one or more joints
4. A crunching feeling or sound of bone

8. If cartilage is the cause, is it possible to reverse the same?
Yes. The damaged cartilage in OA can today be reliably repaired and protected by the continual use of a group of natural substances termed as chondroprotectives (chondro=cartilage). Glucosamine and chondroitin are two proven chondroprotectives and well accepted worldwide for their beneficial effects in OA. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are useful in nourishing the cartilage by aiding synthesis of proteoglycans which are responsible for the sponginess of the cartilage.

9. What is Glucosamine?
Glucosamine, a substance otherwise naturally produced in the body, is a chemical mix of sugar and an amine. It is the building block for important joint components such as the cartilage itself and the synovial fluid, the substance that fills the joint space and acts as a lubricant during the movements of the joints. When glucosamine intake is commenced, the synovial fluid production is induced, and this facilitates frictionless joint movements. In fact, the initial pain in OA is on account of synovial fluid depletion, and by virtue of glucosamine’s ability to help in its manufacture there will be a relief of pain in OA.

10. What is the role of Chondrotin?
Chondroitin is made up of two glucosamine molecules joined with a chemical bond. Many OA sufferers do not produce enough of it from glucosamine and hence chondroitin has to be supplemented additionally. Chondroitin’s main role lies in protecting the cartilage against the destructive effects of body’s enzymes and free radicals. Additionally, the viscosity of the synovial fluid, which determines the freeness of joint movement, is also chondroitin-dependent.

11. What is the daily requirement of Glucosamine – Chondrotin?
An ideal intake of glucosamine-chondroitin is 1500 / 1200 mg daily i.e. a ratio of 5:4. In the latter proportion, glucosamine-chondroitin combinations provide the best possible results in OA. For preventing OA, lower doses of glucosamine-chondroitin can be taken, but the ratio of 5:4 must be maintained for optimal effects.

12. Are there any other chondroprotective substances?
Yes. Vitamin C and silicon are two other chondroprotective agents which facilitate formation of collagen, another vital component of cartilage. Collagen is a vital part of cartilage providing it with elasticity and the ability to absorb shock. It also creates a framework to hold the proteoglycans in place and can be referred to as the “glue” that holds the cartilage matrix together. Hence, any chondroprotective taken must also assure adequate amounts of vitamin C and silicon. Manganese is a mineral, which also should be amply available if glucosamine has to be optimally utilized for cartilage building. Without manganese, the enzymes responsible for proteoglycans synthesis (from glucosamine / chondroitin as raw materials) cannot be activated. Magnesium, an enzyme activator, is vital to assist glucosamine’s activity. Even adequate boron’s presence has been historically documented to protect against arthritis.

13. What about other natural approaches to OA?
Free radicals are today implicated in cartilage destruction (- both proteoglycans as well as collagen), and loss of synovial fluid viscosity. To counter the free radicals antioxidants such as vitamins E and C, selenium, zinc and manganese play an essential role.

14. Are there any optimal quantities required for the functioning of anti-oxidant?
Yes, very much. It is very, very essential to take the correct quantities of any antioxidant, if the free radicals-mediated damage is to be assuredly tackled. Vitamins E & C, as well as minerals such as selenium, zinc and manganese are all necessary in right concentrations for their antioxidant working.

VITAMIN E: This is required as 400 mg daily for its antioxidant benefit. Being fat-soluble, vitamin E protects the cartilage cells’ outer wall.

VITAMIN C: For antioxidant action, minimum of 500 mg of vitamin C is obligatory. This water-soluble vitamin is an excellent protector for the synovial fluid.

SELENIUM / ZINC / MANGANESE: Selenium is a raw material for the body’s natural antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx). Zinc & manganese, on the other hand, assure adequate superoxide dismutase (SOD) – another natural antioxidant of the body, availability. Zinc, additionally, is also vital for the third natural antioxidant enzyme of the body, namely, catalase. A minimum of 7.5 mg of zinc, 2 mg of manganese and 70 mcg of selenium assure adequate functioning of all the 3 natural antioxidant enzymes, and this is
necessary for protecting the inside of the cartilage cells, as well as the cartilage as a whole.

Table: Summary of antioxidants’ action & requirements.

ANTIOXIDANT	HOW IT WORKS?	MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
Vitamin C	Protects the cartilage cell’s interiors (cytoplasm).	500 mg
Vitamin E	Protects the walls of cartilage cells, and media in-between cells.	400 IU
Selenium	Protects the cytoplasm of cartilage cells and its mitochondria (especially) by maintaining adequate levels of GSHPx.	0.07mg
Zinc	Protects the cytoplasm, nucleus as well as the small structures within the cartilage cells by assuring adequate availability of SOD and catalases.	7.5 mg
Manganese	Protects especially mitochondria by enhancing SOD concentrations.	2 mg

 

Any compromise in amounts of antioxidants taken leads to poor defences against the free radicals, and hence leading to greater cartilage destruction in OA.

15. How can pain, the most important complaint in OA, be alleviated naturally?
Methyl Sulfone Methane, or MSM, as it is popularly known, has exceptional benefits in providing pain relief. MSM relieves pain by :

1. Inhibiting pain impulses along nerve fibers.
2. Decreasing inflammation.
3. Reducing muscle stiffness around the affected joint.
4. Breaking up the calcium deposits in the ligaments and muscles adjoining the affected OA joint.

MSM also requires to be taken as 1500 mg for assuring adequate pain relief, at least initially. Thereafter smaller quantities can be continuously taken for maintaining its pain relief effects. Remember, MSM is as safe as water; it can be taken as long as necessary without any undue concern.

16. What would be the ideal natural approach for OA?
An ideal joint supplement for smooth and frictionless movement would be that which provides a judicious blend of chondroprotectives and antioxidants, and in right amounts. Restep is a chondroprotective which provides optimal ratio of glucosamine and chondroitin, plus antioxidants & magnesium-boron for the joint cartilage protection & regeneration, as well as MSM to tackle pain – all in a single sachet for once-a-day intake as a pleasantly flavored drink. Inflammation of the synovial lining (synovitis) is another cause of pain in OA, and it is essential to provide MSM for the relief which all sufferers desire.

17. Who can benefit from Restep?
Restep is useful for managing OA. It is also useful to prevent OA in the obese, or those engaged in heavy exercise, sports, and others with a physically active lifestyle. Restep can be of value in protecting the cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fractures traversing the joint, low backache due to disc degeneration, as well as for otosclerosis – hearing impaired in elderly due to OA of small bones in middle ear.

INTAKE: 1 Restep Sachet once daily or 1 Restep Regular Sachet thrice daily; to be mixed with a glass of chilled water and drunk for a minimum of 3 months. Once relief has been obtained, 1 Restep Regular Sachet can be taken once daily or as required. If the pain is severe or unbearable, analgesics or medicines for pain could be taken additionally initially.