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 AUGUST 7, 2002 Glucosamine for Arthritis Pain Lots of sports enthusiasts take glucosamine for joint aches and pains. More than 1 billion capsules of glucosamine are sold each year, which reflects the belief that it can improve cartilage health. It's been touted as an arthritis "cure," but few studies have proven that any compound can prevent the joint destruction caused by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and leads to the deterioration of joint cartilage. It affects an estimated 12% of the population. Some European clinical studies have shown that arthritis patients who took glucosamine had an improvement in symptoms, including pain and stiffness, while those who took placebo pills had a slight worsening of symptoms. In Europe, glucosamine sulfate is a drug, not a nutritional supplement. In the United States, glucosamine is not regulated, and product quality may vary. Dozens of different varieties of glucosamine are available in health food and drug stores, often combined with chondroitin, as well as vitamin C and stinging nettle. While its mechanism of action is still not fully understood, glucosamine is a natural substance and a building block for joint cartilage. A dozen controlled trials worldwide, including nearly 1,500 osteoarthritis patients, have shown glucosamine to be safe. But most of these trials have been short, an average of about six weeks, so the long-term safety of glucosamine remains in question. The results from a long-term U.S. study should be available soon. Until then, we won't know whether glucosamine sulfate may actually prevent the degradation and worsening of joints. Arthritis Foundation Endorses Glucosamine Chicago rheumatologist William J. Arnold, MD, who is chief medical editor of the Arthritis Foundation's new book Guide to Alternative Therapies, now believes that all osteoarthritis patients, as well as anyone with joint pains, should take glucosamine sulfate regularly. He encourages all of his osteoarthritis patients to take a 1,500 mg daily dose. "If a runner has knee pain, then he should take it, too," Arnold said. He believes that glucosamine hydrochloride, which is one-fifth as expensive as glucosamine sulfate, has the same beneficial effects. Arnold recommends trying glucosamine daily for three months. "If your joint symptoms don't improve, then it's not worth continuing," he says. |
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