Glucosamine is supposed to repair cartilage damaged by osteoarthritis while chondroitin helps keep cartilage elastic. At least that is the theory. It is still unclear why or how it works, if indeed it does work, but many arthritis sufferers have used these supplements and found that they provide relief for their joint pain.
Glucosamine, often recommended for joint pain, is one of the most popular supplements on the market.
And considering the health concerns recently associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, I thought it would be worth looking into whether glucosamine lives up to the hype.
Background: Glucosamine and chondroitin are often combined together and used to treat osteoarthritis (OA), which occurs when the cartilage covering the end of the bone near the joint breaks down.
The most common treatments for OA are nonprescription, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - pain relievers like Tylenol, ibuprofen or aspirin - as well as the prescription medications Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex, which you've probably recently heard have significant cardiovascular concerns.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are substances produced by and found naturally in the body.
The glucosamine and chondroitin in supplements are extracted from animal tissue: glucosamine from crab, lobster or shrimp shells, and chondroitin sulfate from animals such as sharks.
Some research also indicates that the supplements might slow cartilage damage in people with OA.
In fact, the Arthritis Foundation believes there is emerging evidence that glucosamine is an appropriate treatment for people with OA of the knee, providing a number of benefits, such as symptom relief, improved function and a slowdown in the progression of cartilage damage.
In a key review completed by the Arthritis Center of Boston University School of Medicine and reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the authors analyzed all available glucosamine studies, concluding, "Trials of glucosamine and chondroitin preparations for OA symptoms demonstrate moderate to large effects, but quality issues and likely publication bias suggest that these effects are exaggerated.
One thing about glucosamine no one disputes is that it's generally safe.