A popular arthritis supplement has failed again. Several previous studies of glucosamine have found it lacking when it comes to relieving mild to moderate arthritis pain. In the current study, Norwegian scientists recruited 250 patients with chronic lower back pain and osteoarthritis in the spine. They were randomly assigned to take either glucosamine or placebo for six months. At the end of the six months and again six months later, their pain and disability was assessed. There was no statistical difference in scores between the two groups. Neither group reported significantly more side effects either.
Based on this and a large government funded trial that lasted six months, the overall conclusion seems to be that glucosamine does not provide significant benefit for osteoarthritis.
[Journal of the American Medical Association, July 7, 2010]
The People's Perspective on Medicine