Lee Swanson Research Update

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Help Osteoarthritis Subjects

October 2003

The July 14 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine reported that Belgian medical researchers had just released the results of a meta-analysis of 15 randomized, placebo-controlled studies involving 1,020 patients treated with glucosamine and 755 treated with chondroitin.

Researchers concluded that daily oral supplementation with glucosamine sulfate slows the degenerative process of joint cartilage and that oral supplementation with glucosamine or chondroitin significantly decreases the symptoms (pain and joint immobility) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. They added that the beneficial effects of the two compounds are often felt within two weeks of the start of supplementation.

One of the main symptoms of osteoarthritis is a reduction in the joint space between the bony parts of the knee resulting in pain and eventual erosion of the bone. The researchers found that treatment with 1,500 mg per day of glucosamine sulfate for three years resulted in a 0.27 mm smaller decrease in joint space than did treatment with a placebo. Pain was found to be significantly decreased in patients supplementing with glucosamine or chondroitin. They also noted that "safety was excellent for both compounds.

Arch Intern Med, 163(13):1514-22, 2003

New to Natural Health?
Tools
Customer Service