Abstract: A method of treating osteoarthritis, which is effective not only at targeting the symptoms of the disease, but also in interrupting, preventing, and controlling cartilage destruction, to thereby favorably alter the course of the disease, comprising the administration of an effective amount of rhein or a rhein derivative, preferably diacerein, either alone or in combination with at least one member selected from the group consisting of analgesics, antipyretics, cortico-steroids, anti-inflammatory agents, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and inflammatory cytokine inhibitors, to a subject in need of such treatment.

Abstract: An enteral food composition for clinical or dietary use, comprises, in addition to carbohydrates and proteins or their hydrolysates the following components or their nutritional equivalents, per daily dosage: methionine (0.6-7 g), cysteine (0.5-2.5 g), folic acid (0.4-8 mg), pyridoxal (vitamin B 6) (3-20 mg), zinc (18-120 mg) and at least 400 kcal energy in the form of carbohydrates. These amounts are well above the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) values. Further preferred components include lecithin, cvanocobalamine, betaine and magnesium, as well as transsulfuration metabolites, ATP enhancers and antioxidants.