Role of Dietary Glucosinolates and Isothiocyanate Derivatives in Osteoarthritis: Insights from a Narrative Review

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease mainly characterized by inflammation and pain. Some promising approaches are aimed at combating the general mechanisms of osteoarthritis development and progression by targeting specific molecules. Although scientific and clinical communities remain skeptical regarding the efficacy of nutrition in managing human diseases, several products have been recognized as capable of improving health conditions and counteracting specific chronic and inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis. The aim of this narrative review is to present the results obtained by a search through electronic databases on the effect of glucosinolates and their breakdown products, in particular isothiocyanates, in both the prevention and complementary therapy for osteoarthritis. Even if we found a few studies on this topic, some preclinical studies demonstrated an active role of these compounds in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. A beneficial effect of a diet rich in glucoraphanin, a glucosinolate derivative, has been associated with a lower risk of developing osteoarthritis in a proof-of-principle trial. To further advance this topic, it is essential to conduct additional preclinical studies to address existing research gaps, alongside more rigorous clinical investigations, especially long-term randomized controlled trials. These efforts should focus on determining the most effective type of glucosinolate and relative metabolites in counteracting osteoarthritis progression and identifying their dose–response behavior to assess both benefits and side effects associated with their oral intake.