| Glucosamine sulphate has been around a long time | | | | Glucosamine as a treatment for people with mild to |
| now and as each year goes by more and more | | | | moderately severe osteoarthritis. |
| claims are made telling us about this miracle joint | | | | To date no study has found any serious side effects |
| lubricant. Are all the claims true? Will it cure Arthritis? | | | | from either Glucosamine or Chondroitin when taken as |
| What is Glucosamine anyway? And what about | | | | a supplement in humans. However people with |
| Chondroitin? | | | | diabetes are advised to keep a check on their |
| Glucosamine is a naturally produced amino sugar | | | | blood-sugar level. While there have been no reports of |
| which is found in small amounts in foods. It plays an | | | | allergic reactions to Glucosamine, since it's made from |
| important role in maintaining the cartilage gel-like | | | | shellfish shells, it may not be suitable for people with |
| material between our joints. The body also produces a | | | | seafood allergies. It may also increase a person's daily |
| carbohydrate called Chondroitin, which is thought to | | | | salt intake level - something people with high blood |
| promote water retention and elasticity as well as | | | | pressure may want to watch. Chondroitin on the other |
| blocking the enzymes that break down cartilage. | | | | hand may sometimes cause bleeding in people with |
| As we get older the body's ability to manufacture and | | | | bleeding disorders or taking blood-thinning drugs. Like |
| synthesize Glucosamine and Chondroitin decreases. | | | | many supplements insufficient data is available about |
| This probably contributes to the joint problems we | | | | the long term effects and hence it should be not be |
| have all come to associate with growing old, a fact | | | | taken by children, or pregnant or breastfeeding |
| that health food companies did not take long to latch | | | | mothers. |
| on to. | | | | The United States Food and Drug Administration |
| Although studies have been carried out in numerous | | | | embarked on a study involving 1500 people earlier in |
| countries to try to prove conclusively that Glucosamine | | | | 2005 to determine the effects of Glucosamine and |
| is effective in treating arthritis and joint problems there | | | | Chondroitin on people with arthritic problems. |
| have been an equal number of questions raised about | | | | There are many claims that taking Glucosamine will |
| the methodology of many of these studies. One such | | | | slow and possibly halt osteoarthritis-related damage to |
| study, in Europe, took X-rays to measure the size of | | | | joints, speed healing of strains and sprains, control back |
| the gap in the knee joint before and after taking | | | | pain and help promote healthy aging. Whether this is |
| Glucosamine. Even though the results showed that the | | | | true or not, the overall rhetorical evidence is probably |
| size of the gap was significantly larger, in a group of | | | | stacked in favour of the use of Glucosamine as a |
| people taking Glucosamine compared to a group | | | | supplement - so maybe it's worth a try - for a trial |
| taking NSAIDs, critics said that the study was not large | | | | period anyway! |
| enough to draw firm conclusions. They also claimed | | | | Update Nov 16 2005 |
| the X-ray evidence was too difficult to interpret. | | | | The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) says that |
| Many Vets and pet owners have been using | | | | the clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of |
| Glucosamine to treat joint problems in horses and | | | | Health (NIH), showed that the combined use of the two |
| dogs for a number of years now. They swear by the | | | | dietary supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin, |
| effectiveness of this form of treatment for their | | | | provided significant pain relief for sufferers of the joint |
| animals. While there is no placebo effect in animals it is | | | | disease. |
| equally difficult to find well documented, and conclusive, | | | | The results of the six-month study involving 1,500 |
| scientific evidence to confirm the effectiveness of | | | | osteoarthritis patients found that a combination of the |
| Glucosamine. | | | | two supplements was effective in treating moderate |
| While there might be limited good, accredited, scientific | | | | to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis. |
| proof as to the effectiveness of Glucosamine there is | | | | Other research from a 24-week clinical trial in Europe |
| an abundance of people as well as pet owners who | | | | found that glucosamine sulfate to be more effective in |
| swear by the effectiveness of Glucosamine. Even | | | | relieving osteoarthritis pain than the pain medicine |
| though Glucosamine is often used in combination with | | | | acetaminophen. |
| other supplements, or treatments, the general feeling | | | | This information in this article should not be used to |
| among most users is that it does help. Results of | | | | diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. You should |
| empirical studies in various countries have shown that | | | | always consult with your health care professional |
| arthritis sufferers report significant improvements when | | | | especially relating to suitability of supplements or drugs |
| taking Glucosamine supplements. The same is also | | | | and on all health matters that may require diagnosis or |
| true for people who have other types of joint injuries | | | | medical attention. |
| or back problems. Some countries now sanction | | | | |