Glucosamine Can Offer Relief For Osteoarthritis

Posting Date: 11/17/1999

There is a growing consensus that the nutritional supplement glucosamine sulfate can relieve, but not cure, the painful degenerative bone and joint condition known as osteoarthritis.

Belgian researchers say the over-the-counter supplement was found to improve osteoarthritis of the knee in a placebo-controlled study involving 212 patients.

One problem with buying this supplement in health food stores is that the amount of the active ingredient glucosamine sulfate isn?t always known. In high concentrations, however, it should be considered a drug and only taken on a physician?s advice.

Another report in The Lancet indicates that one advantage of glucosamine sulfate over non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ? such as aspirin ? is it relieves pain without the side effects of irritating the stomach.

In fact, one specialist claims that glucosamine taken in 3 grams/day doses or higher results in other unexpected and positive side effects such as accelerated wound healing, relief from chronic vascular headaches and relief from the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, according to The Lancet report.

The main thing to be aware of here is that glucosamine sulfate in supplements isn?t a cure and should be avoided by people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes. There is also a danger that supplements can be mislabeled or even counterfeit.

You may get some benefits from glucosamine, but think of it as a prescription drug that needs the approval of your doctor, not of a health store clerk.

Source: The Lancet, Nov. 8, 1999

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