Q. I’ve always had low cholesterol, but it has been rising for the past few years. First it went from 180 to 233, and then to 363.
I tried to figure out what might be responsible and realized I had started taking glucosamine and chondroitin for sore knee joints in 2005. I thought perhaps that might have triggered the problem.
My doctor is skeptical and he would like me to take Crestor to lower my cholesterol. In the meantime, I have stopped the supplement. My knees hurt again, but soon I will have my cholesterol tested to see if it has come down.
A. Studies have not shown that glucosamine and chondroitin are effective for relieving mild to moderate arthritis pain (Arthritis and Rheumatism, Oct, 2008). Nonetheless, many people take it and report benefit.
No studies have proven that glucosamine raises cholesterol, though many readers do report such an association. The dietary supplement does appear to increase insulin resistance, however, and could make treatment of type 2 diabetes more difficult (American Journal of the Medical Sciences, June, 2007).
