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A study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology reported that disappointing results from a study of the dietary supplement glucosamine. Over 200 subjects with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee were randomized to receive either glucosamine or placebo for six months. The investigators performed both an X-ray and MRI of the knees at the beginning of the study and also 24 weeks later to see whether the glucosamine could affect the narrowing of the joint. The researchers concluded that there was no detectable benefit in easing osteoarthritis based on objective measurements.
[American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, Oct. 2009]
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Should we continue taking glucosomine if it shows that it doesn't actually help??
Hi...The study of the dietary supplement Glucosamine did not reveal the dosage level, so what is the point? I was diagnosed with OA in my early 50's and required 600-800mg of Ibu daily, to enable me to live with arthritis pain.
A friend 'steered' me toward supplements in the 1990s which have since given me more quality of life. Since that time, I've been taking 1500mg of Glucosamine (with 2 tablets) combined with 1500mg of MSM - in a split dosage. I take an additional 1000mg of MSM in the evening with 200mcg of Selenium, 600mg of Calcium with Vitamin 'D' Magnesium and Zinc, and 100mcg of Vitamin 'K'. I 'wash' everything down with a glass of water after the meal.
Before going to bed, I usually have a bowl of cereal with milk and fruit, to satisfy any lingering hunger 'pains'.
Today, I take no NSAIDs and am able to sleep through till morning, having experienced no pain during the night. To eliminate any mild stiffness when I get up, especially in the shoulders, I do some 'light' exercise rotating the arms to the front and sides.
I won't mention them here, but included in the daily regimen, are a few supplements taken with the morning meal.
Regards, Bob...age 72.
I am a 61yo F who looks and feels 40ish... I've always been into extreme sports and have managed to break 13 bones skiing, parachuting and rock-climbing. One of those 13 times was most of the foot/ankle bones on one side, so it's really more than 13... I broke both knees right across the ball and socket joints. I still have lots of metal. I've been assigned copious rehab exercises but never did any.
I really don't work out either. I drink 3 drinks a day and have smoked all my life till about 2 years ago. But by taking chondroitin and glucosamine, also MSM and hyaluronic acid (all just according to pkg directions), I am STILL mainly pain-free and still upping the ante, sportswise! Even more amazing, as a teenager I had terrible knees -- much pain, creaking, crackling, etc. So I've gotten rid of that, too! I KNOW it's the supplements -- mainly the chondroitin/glucosamine, which I've taken for years.
PS, I do take lots of other supplements too, mainly antioxidants; I try to keep away from anything with chemicals in it and I eat really healthy with special attention to anti-inflammation foods; so there's that, too... (therefore I've managed to reverse both my macular degeneration and my urinary symptoms; I never get the flu or even a cold, and have never had any GI symptoms of ANY KIND.) Yay for me, because I also don't have any insurance so I darn well BETTER stay healthy! Anyway, I'm not sure about glucosamine alone, but the glucosamine/chondroitin combo sure works for me! And cheers to you, Bob.
Placebo effect? I have been taking glucosamine/MSM supplementation similar to Bob G. for the past 18 months. I cannot say they have arrested or reversed my advancing (bone-on-bone) arthritis of the knee, but I believe they may have suspended or slowed it; it certainly hurts less than when I started and I remain more mobile. Purely anecdotal observation; age 64.
I am totally confused about the effectiveness of Glucosamine (with or without Chondrointin.) The specific brand my orthopedic surgeon recommended a few years ago is very expensive, so I just skipped it. Now I'm having trouble with my knee... it feels bruised or inflamed right at the top of my kneecap but isn't swollen and I didn't injure it (and I'm not overweight.) Still have hip stiffness, too. Was G/C just a fad?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: MOST OF THE DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED RESEARCH ON GLUCOSAMINE FOR ARTHRITIS PAIN HAS GIVEN DISAPPOINTING RESULTS. WHILE SOME INDIVIDUALS CLAIM BENEFIT, WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT AT THIS POINT.
I am a 61yo female who has been taking glucosamine/chondroitin for a bad left knee for 20 years. I stop taking it every year or two to see if it really helps. Each time the knee swells and aches. I also find that descending and climbing stairs becomes difficult and I cannot walk downhill w/o a hiking stick or cane. I will keep taking it no matter who has a study to prove that it doesn't work!
I injured my meniscus in a skiing accident years ago and subsequently had pain and swelling in that knee. Celebrex helped the pain somewhat but gave me nausea. Within 2 weeks of starting glucosamine all pain and swelling was gone and I went skiing for a week in the Canadian Rockies without any problem.
I am a family physician and I recommend a trial of glucosamine for my arthritis patients and I have found that they are either "responders" or "non-responders" and if it doesn't help just have them stop. Some of my patients, like me, get significant improvement without any side effects. "Nutrition Action" states that there may be a difference in efficacy between glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate with glucosamine hydrochloride version being possibly more effective.
As with any therapy not everyone responds. This is true of prescription drugs and certainly true of home remedies and supplements (soap under the sheet) and you don't stop recommending them. As long as it's not toxic and not too expensive why not give it a try?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: WE CERTAINLY AGREE. IF IT WON'T HURT, MIGHT HELP AND ISN'T TOO PRICEY, IT IS WORTH A TRY TO SEE IF IT WORKS FOR YOU. WE HAVE HEARD FROM MANY READERS WHO HAVE FOUND GLUCOSAMINE HELPFUL FOR JOINT PAIN, BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RESULTS OF CLINICAL TRIALS.
I have been taking glucosamine for a month now to see if it would help my hip pain. I am still not sure if it really helps but I have had stomach pain now for a couple of weeks an wonder if this is from the glucosamine?
I would like to try glucosamine but can't manage the "horse pills". Do you know of any that are people size? Thanks, Louise.