Glucosamine supplements are thought of as beneficial in reducing aches and pains caused by arthritis. Medical studies, however, find little evidence that glucosamine reduces symptoms of arthritis. Despite the most recent study in this area, there is still some dispute as to whether the type of glucosamine used for the study was appropriate, so some doctors may still recommend it to their patients.
The most revealing study, published in the 23 February 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, evaluated over 1500 people with an average age of 59. Most of them suffered from knee pain caused by arthritis. Patients were divided into five separate groups. The groups received medication, supplements, or placebo as follows:
The study’s defined goal was for patients to experience a 20% reduction in knee pain. In Group V, Group I and Group II, few people actually felt pain reduction approaching 20%. However about 79% of Group III, taking glucosamine and chondroitin felt mild to moderate pain relief, if they had previously described their pain as severe. Those with the most severe pain noted the greatest pain relief in all groups. This suggests that a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement might provide some pain relief to those in severe pain from arthritis. However, a 20% reduction in pain may not provide enough benefit to those in chronic pain.
One aspect of the study that has been called into question is the type of glucosamine used. Patients taking glucosamine or glucosamine with chondroitin were given glucosamine hydrochloride. This is because only glucosamine hydrochloride could be found in a form that met safe manufacturing standards.
Dr. Marc Hochberg, head of rheumatology at the University of Maryland, suggests that more patients would have benefited if they had instead taken another form of the supplement, called glucosamine sulfate. His suggestion for those who suffer from arthritis was to try a glucosamine sulfate supplement to see if it offered pain relief. As long as a glucosamine supplement meets safe manufacturing standards, it is considered safe for people to take. Hochberg recommends one evaluate whether relief is offered from the supplement, since safety tends not to be an issue. If glucosamine sulfate offers no relief after three months, there appears no continued benefit in taking it.
