A new study suggests that avocado and soybean oils may relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Several recent studies have found that dietary supplements made from a mixture of avocado and soybean oils may provide relief from arthritis pain. French doctors found evidence that the supplements, known as avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), may ease the pain from hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that destroys the cartilage in joints over time. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber to keep the body's bones from rubbing together. According to WTOP.com, the studies claim that the oils may provide the same benefit for people with arthritis as pain-relieving prescription medications. However, the supplements would spare them possible side effects like heart attacks or strokes that sometimes occur with high doses of the drugs.

Study findings

In a placebo-controlled study, doctors found that Piasclédine, a French avocado/soybean oil supplement, decreased pain and discomfort for those taking the pill by as much as 8 points on a scale of zero to 100 when compared to those taking the placebo. The study reported that those who took 300 milligrams of the pill over a period of three to 12 months had greater improvement in their physical functions than those who took placebo pills.

Cochrane, an independent, nongovernmental agency that examines clinical trials, said in its report on the study that the avocado-soy pill could have some positive effect.

Cochrane concluded that there is moderate to high evidence that the avocado/soybean supplement can relieve pain for those with osteoarthritis in the short term, but it said there isn't currently enough evidence to establish that the pills can slow cartilage damage.

The French supplement is sold in 46 countries but not in the United States, according to the Wall Street Journal. But one doctor from Tucson, Arizona, does sell his own brand of ASU. Dr. Jason Theodosakis, the head of Supplement Testing Institute Inc., advocates the avocado and soybean oil supplements even though his have not been tested in clinical trials. Theodosakis, who's also a clinical associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, said that adding more avocados and soybeans to your diet won't have the same pain-relieving effect as the concentrated dose the pills have.

More study needed

According to David Felson, a senior arthritis researcher at Boston University School of Medicine, there's not enough evidence that the supplements are effective. There are also no long-term studies showing effectiveness.

A 2002 French study, published by the American College of Rheumatology and included in Wiley.com’s online library, found that patients taking Piasclédine reported that the pill did not affect their symptoms.

Another study conducted by Laboratoires Expanscience, the makers of the pill, reported that the supplement had no effect on killing osteoarthritis pain. The head of the study commented, however, that the doctors were primarily investigating whether the tablets help preserve patients' cartilage, not their possible pain-relief ability.

Still, with no drugs on the market that will cure osteoarthritis, some doctors say there's no harm in trying the supplements to see if they provide any relief.

For more on alternative treatments for arthritis:

Outside-the-Box Arthritis Treatment
Alternative Treatments: Massage Therapy for Arthritis Pain
What to Do When Your Doctor's Treatment Plan is Wrong for You