Joint Effort from Glucosamine
There are millions of doctor's visits annually for osteoarthritis. As New Zealanders become more educated about the complications of osteoarthritis (OA) and the cost of treating this condition, there is an increasing need to understand complementary and alternative remedies that may help halt the advancement of OA and curtail orthodox health care costs. One such proven alternative is glucosamine.
Glucosamine has some extremely beneficial uses, especially for connective tissue and OA. The role that glucosamine may play in the treatment of OA is to delay, halt or even help reverse the degenerative process. Glucosamine is rapidly taken up into cells. Premature loss of cartilage is part of the clinical syndrome recognised as OA. Glucosamine is commonly taken in combination with chondroitin.
Not only can those who suffer from OA benefit from glucosamine intake, but active individuals especially weekend warriors, may have a tendency to overuse certain joints. Glucosamine may help people regain cushioning, protecting cartilage around joints and potentially relieving pain.
Glucosamine is a natural component found in connective tissue and gastrointestinal mucosal membranes. Forms of glucosamine include: glucosamine sulphate; glucosamine hydrochloride; and mixtures of both of them. In theory both the hydrochloride and sulphate forms will dissolve completely in stomach acid which makes all glucosamine available for absorption in the small intestine.
Available evidence from randomized controlled trials supports the use of glucosamine sulphate in the treatment of OA, particularly of the knee. A 2005 review of all randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness and toxicity of glucosamine sulphate in OA, covering 20 studies with 2,570 patients, found that it was superior to placebo in the treatment of pain and functional impairment resulting from OA. A study of postmenopausal women found that glucosamine sulphate reduced joint space narrowing compared to placebo. Some other reported benefits include pain relief, possibly due to an anti-inflammatory effect of glucosamine sulphate and improved joint function.
Chondroitin sulphate reduced joint swelling, but did not appear to relieve pain. While more clinical trials are needed to confirm effectiveness and to test different formulations of glucosamine, the safety profile of glucosamine is far superior to that of NSAIDs, especially with regard to some of the more recent risks associated with the newer generation of NSAIDs.
Leanne James is a Naturopath at Ideal Health. For more information on Glucosamine visit