Experience Challenges Glucosamine Study

I wonder whether taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin could increase a person's chance of getting heart disease. When I took it my cholesterol went up 40-50 points! I wish a study would be done on this matter. I was about to start taking a statin, but when I decided to stop taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin my cholesterol went right down to healthy levels. It didn't help my arthritis pain at all. Since arthritis- type pain waxes and wanes dramatically over the years, big improvements in pain reduction could be due to normal fluctuations, not the supplements.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin (without MSM) have no effect on my arthritic knee pain (have tried it several times for 2-6 months at a time). MSM, on the other hand, does help, although not as much as ibuprofen, which I don't want to take on a daily basis.

I have taken Glucosamine and Chondrotin for years and feel that it helps -- not a wonder drug, but I'm better with it than without. I was encouraged to try it by my vet who showed me results of improvement in the joints of race horses.

Have used glucosamine and chondrotin and noticed that, for me, a very effective temporary effect. When the drug wears off, the symptoms return. Have not observed permanent changes.

My son has an 11 year old female shelties that has arthritis and she was experiencing a lot of pain in moving. The vet recommended Chondroitin and Glucosamine for the animal. He has been giving the dog those supplements and the dog is experiencing much less pain. Remember animals are not subject to the placebo effect.

Due to a motor neuron disease my walking gait had changes and I was experience difficulty walking and a fair amount of pain in my right knee and ankle. My neurologist suggested a combination of Glucosamin, Chondroitin, Collagen and MSM. He also suggested taking it in a liquid form. Within a week of taking the treatment the pain was gone and has never returned. Also I was experiencing "trigger finger" in two of my fingers. That problem also went away after a month or two. I now take a dose 1 or 2 times a week as maintenance. This stuff is like a miracle for me.

I have osteoarthritis in my neck and have used glucosamine by itself or in various combinations with chondroitin, MSM for about 20 years. I'm very careful to not forget it because I did once for probably two to four weeks and the strong pain returned. I also have noticed that some brands don't seem to be as good as others. And even in a brand that I trust, it seems I've gotten a bottle that was less effective. I think it was when the company was trying something different.

I also have used this with several of my older dogs who showed severe arthritic symptoms and one dog who had an acl injury> I use a combination supplement which has glucosomine, chondrotin, and MSM in it and these animals improved greatly after supplementation. The dosage was 1000mg per day. I have also taken it myself when I have had problems and it has helped tremendously. I think the key is getting the right dosage and maintaining supplementation.

I would definitely recommend having your cholesterol level checked while taking it though because there are numerous reports of particularly glucosomine raising cholesterol levels for some reason! Diabetics should also be wary of glucosomine (glucose) as it does have a tendency to raise blood sugar levels as well.

Because of arthritis in my fingers, I have been taking glucosamine for more than 20 years. Twice I stopped it to test its effectiveness for a period of weeks. My joints swelled and I could barely type. I was convinced it worked. Now that I am 70, however, it has not worked as well for my knees.

I am 64 & take glucosamine chondrotin w/ MSM. My knees were starting to ache and hurt when walking w/ my dog, who is 12. He was also starting to have trouble w/ HIS joints. I began taking the stuff, and giving it to my dog. After about 2&1/2-3 weeks it began working for both me and my most fantastic best-canine-in-the-world buddy. I will never stop taking it and never stop giving to my dog - who improved just as I did.

My aunt is 85 and was beginning to have knee aches and difficulty walking. Her doctors were advocating total knee replacement for both knees. I suggested to her she try the glucosamine chrondrotin W/MSM before undergoing those surgeries. To my great surprise, she tried it and has had the same result. Every phone call we have now she begins with "Those d..... doctors!" She asked me why no doctor suggested this alternative before surgery - I cannot answer that question.

I have used a liquid Glucosemine/MSM combo for 8 years and it seems to help the inflammation in my body. My right hip and knee is very painful in spite of my otherwise healthy lifestyle. I am wondering if the Sulfur in the MSM is doing the healing and help or I imagine that it is helpful. Also, I teach Arthritis Exercise and am building muscle to help my painful problem. We, in West Virginia have the highest arthritis among other chronic diseases nationwide, and this may be an environmental problem. I would be open to discuss this further.
Lonna B., Wellness Chair. Unitarian Univeralist Congregation. Charleston WV

I'm convinced that glucosamine works on the arthritis in my feet, because when I stop taking it the pain comes back. I've tried several times, with the same result. My podiatrist was amazed, after looking at the X-rays, that I didn't want cortisone shots. In my other arthritic joints, it's not clear if the glucosamine is helping, because there is pain. Whether it would be worse without the glucosamine, I don't know.

Glucosamine and Chondrotin with MSM -the MSM proved to be the key for me. It greatly improved my fingers-movement. RA has caused major "drift" damage in my right hand and I had to use a brace to type but within 4-6 weeks of using Glucosamine and Chondrotin with MSM that changed: no longer needed the brace and had full typing-ability. About a year later [late '09] the producer changed the formula and dropped the MSM. Within 4-6 weeks I experienced an RA flare in my hand and almost back to where I'd been before beginning Glucosamine and Chondrotin with MSM. I went out and found MSM and added that to my routine. Again within a short time my hand mobility was nearly completely restored. By the way the producer has recently announced that it's gone back to the old formula of Glucosamine and Chondrotin with MSM.

Back around 1985, Motrin 800 mg was prescribed for my arthritis, to be taken up to 3 times a day. I regularly took only one dose per day until around 2004 when my new Kaiser doctor suggested that I omit the Motrin and try glucosamine. I have been very happy with the results. I have had one total hip replacement (which is wonderful), and continue the glucosamine for discomfort in my knees. I am female, age 78, and I lap swim every day. When my adult son had TMJ, his only relief was with the glucosamine which I recommended. It really works!!

Some of these "studies" are inconsistent. The duration is too short, the participants too few, which does not allow for variables among individuals and the dosage is questionable. Positive results for people who take supplements, etc., are better than any "study".

Some Cancer centers are recommending Glucosamine for post chemo joint pain. Prescribing it be taken three days after treatment 3XD for 3 days.

Last summer my dog had to go off his daily dose of glucosamine/chondroitin which he had been taking for the past 5 years. Within a short amount of time, he no longer was able to jump up into the van and began to "bunny-hop" when he ran around the yard. Once his allergy testing was finished, I put him back on his daily dose and he quickly returned to his former agility. I don't know how they could say this stuff doesn't work because it sure helped my German Shepherd a great deal!

I'm a skier and I ski very hard. I've spent many years skydiving and rock-climbing. In all, I've broken 25+ bones (some were multiples from one injury). I've had both knees broken right across the ball and socket. I have much metal in my body. The docs have always said I'll definitely get arthritic processes in these injury sites, "sooner than later." However, many of these were many years ago!

I used to have bad crepitus in both knees (creaking and crackling) and couldn't down-hike under a pack without terrible pain -- but now have no crepitus and very little pain only occasionally. More recently I've torn/stretched ligaments in my knee and never even saw the doc because I have no insurance... treated it myself with OTC homeopathics. I've been told my knee is "disintegrating." I've never done any physical therapy I was assigned. I'm now 62 & still going strong. The secret? I've always taken Chondroitin and Glucosamine with MSM. How can it not be helpful?!

I accidentally voted one star. I meant to vote five stars for the helpfulness of this article.

I have been taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin with MSM for 20 years for the arthritis associated with lupus. I've been doing this because my rheumatologist said she would take it, even though chemically there is no reason to believe this drug that works on horses should work on humans (the molecules are too big for our our bodies to absorb or something).

Thanks for all the postings - a couple gave me eyes-wide-open ideas I had not before considered: 1. the success w/ the dogs proves efficacy because they haven't heard or read the "studies" and can't read labels; 2. the placebo effect doesn't work on dogs (that comment has kept me laughing for days).

I think those experiencing joint trouble & problems might seriously consider natural supplements before the radical approaches such as the suggestions to my aunt to have both knees replaced - she is totally thrilled the pain has abated and still has her "old knees" - she's 85 and takes the glucosamine chrondroitin w/MSM. No one can know if the supplements will work unless the person tries it.

When I took glucosamine chondroiton a year ago my blood pressure shot up by 20 points, and my doctor was about to put me on blood pressure medicine. I stopped taking the supplement and within a 6 week period my blood pressure dropped to where it is supposed to be. Have any studies been done on this connection?

I am a 78 year old male and have been taking Glucosamine (1500mg), MSM (750 mg and Hyaluronic acid (as sodium hyaluronate) for several years. I wouldn't be without it. Prior to taking these tablets, my knees snapped, crackled, and popped when I got up at night. Not so now!!!!

When I took glucosamine chondroitin my cholesterol went up sky high but I felt great. Though I stopped giving it to myself, my 10 year old dog gets it and has improved greatly. She is active and happy. I don't, however, know how her cholesterol is.

We take glucosamine/chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid for joint pain. I have to say that the one that seems to make the most difference (if we run out we notice it in our joints!) is the MSM. I'm going to try the grape juice & pectin.

I have been using Glucosomine/Chondroitin for seven years now and it has been a God send. Seven years ago I had pain in my hands, knees and shoulder. Now I have virtually no pain in these areas. I also gave it to my eighty year old father and he also noticed a difference in his knees. I would not go without this for one day!

When I came down with an arthritic knee about 5 years ago I was in a lot of pain. Couldn't jog anymore. Didn't get much sleep. Had trouble navigating stairs. Tried everything even acupuncture. In fact the acupuncturist, upon hearing my loud cracking knee, said I would probably be needing knee replacement surgery.

Then a friend who also had arthritic knees put me onto Glucosomine. She said it stopped her pain... but if I did start taking it to give a couple or 3 weeks to kick in... it's not like a prescription drug in that respect. I stayed with it and sure enough after a couple of weeks the pain started going away, and in another week the knee joint was totally pain free. I have been pain free since.

I'm a guy in my late 70's. I ride my bike 40 to 50 miles a week and use the stairs instead of elevators whenever possible. In my book Glucosomine is remarkable.
The billion dollar knee replacement industry does not look fondly on this product so it comes as no surprise that knee replacement surgeons would refer to it as snake oil.