Food Supplements in Osteoarthritis: A Practical Framework for Discussing Evidence with Patients

The treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), a leading cause of disability worldwide, is increasingly integrating nutritional strategies that appear to offer the opportunity to significantly improve the quality of care. Patients are also aware of this and often seek clarification and advice from OA professionals. However, it is still too early to formulate definitive recommendations, as the scientific evidence is still heterogeneous. This can create a gap between patients’ need for clear guidance and the necessarily prudent communication of professionals. As a result, some patients may make decisions on their own, forgoing the opportunity to receive nutritional care personalised according to their dietary habits and disease severity. This commentary presents an expert interpretation of the currently available evidence and proposes a practical framework to support clinical discussions with patients. It is not intended as a formal clinical practice guideline but aims to help OA professionals navigate conversations about the role that nutritional strategies may play in disease management.