FAQ on Glucosamine from the Arthritis Foundation
Link: http://www.arthritis.org/con...es/glucosamine.asp
Learning How Glucosamine Works
Link: http://www.arthritis.org/resea...eb/glucosamine.asp
Excerpt: “Glucosamine is a dietary supplement used alone or in combination with chondroitin sulfate to reduce pain in osteoarthritis (OA). In addition, recent studies suggest that it may be a “disease-modifying” agent for OA, i.e., one that can prevent or treat cartilage breakdown and delay the onset of OA. Exactly how glucosamine works isn’t known. It has been suggested that glucosamine may increase the production of a key type of protein found in cartilage, called proteoglycan, and as a result help to build or repair cartilage.”
Dietary Outcomes in Osteoarthritis Disease Management
Link: http://www.arthritis.org/resea...12/glucosamine.asp
Excerpt: “Precautions and Possible Side Effects: There are no known contraindications to glucosamine supplementation. Glucosamine appears safe and has few short-term side effects. Pregnant women, children, and very elderly people should avoid glucosamine since no studies among these specific populations exist. Patients taking blood-thinners should be extremely careful if they take glucosamine combined with chondroitin...”
National Center for Biotechnology Information
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Glucosamine sulfate use and delay of progression of knee osteoarthritis: a 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Excerpt: “CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with glucosamine sulfate retarded the progression of knee osteoarthritis, possibly determining disease modification.”
Hydrolyzed olive vegetation water in mice has anti-inflammatory activity.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Excerpt: “These findings suggest that a combination of OVW [olive vegetation water] and glucosamine may be an effective therapy for a variety of inflammatory processes, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.”
Antiarthritic effects of glucosamine sulfate studied in animal models.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Excerpt: “GS [glucosamine sulfate] can therefore be considered as a drug of choice for prolonged oral treatment of rheumatic disorders.”
Correlation between radiographic severity of knee osteoarthritis and future disease progression. Results from a 3-year prospective, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effect of glucosamine sulfate.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Excerpt: “CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients with the less severe radiographic knee OA [osteoarthritis] will experience, over 3 years, the most dramatic disease progression in terms of joint space narrowing. Such patients may be particularly responsive to structure-modifying drugs. Copyright 2003 OsteoArthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.”
Glucosamine sulfate reduces osteoarthritis progression in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: evidence from two 3-year studies.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Excerpt: “CONCLUSION: This analysis, focusing on a large cohort of postmenopausal women, demonstrated for the first time that a pharmacological intervention for OA [osteoarthritis] has a disease-modifying effect in this particular population, the most frequently affected by knee OA [osteoarthritis].”
Efficacy and safety of intramuscular glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Excerpt: “Glucosamine sulfate (Dona, CAS 29031-19-4) is a drug used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. When orally given, it is more effective than placebo and at least as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in relieving osteoarthritis symptoms.”
Glucosamine long-term treatment and the progression of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Excerpt “CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence suggests that glucosamine sulfate may be effective and safe in delaying the progression and improving the symptoms of knee OA. Due to the sparse data on structural efficacy and safety, further studies are warranted.”
Safety & Efficacy of Glucosamine and Chondroitin in Osteoarthritis
http://www.msp.mb.ca/protected/JournalArticles/28_3_Glucosamine.pdf
Excerpt: “Clinical studies show these agents are very well tolerated and may be beneficial for osteoarthritis symptoms.”
Glucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritis
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab002946.html
Excerpt: “…glucosamine taken for 6 weeks decreases pain and improves function (physical ability) in people with osteoarthritis.”
Glucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritis (Cochrane Review)
http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/AB002946.htm
Excerpt: “…studies evaluating the Rotta preparation show that glucosamine was superior to placebo in the treatment of pain and functional impairment resulting from symptomatic OA. WOMAC outcomes of pain, stiffness and function did not show a superiority of glucosamine over placebo for both Rotta and non-Rotta preparations of glucosamine. Glucosamine was as safe as placebo.”
Arthritis and Glucosamine Information CenterThis information is provided for research purposes only, and is not intended to replace your physician's medical advice. Seek out the advice of a qualified medical professional before taking any over-the-counter supplements.