Is there any real evidence that glucosamine helps with arthritis?

[Bonnyjars]

Just been diagnosed with arthritis in my hips and neck... sugestion from medic is that I try glucosamine - but he acknowledged that only evidence of benefit is anecdotal. Does anyone know of any real evidence (not merely anecdotal) that glucosamine is useful for alleviating arthritis

[Sqad]

I have never seen any persuasive scientific evidence for reliable sources that Glucosamine plays any part in the management and care of osteoarthritis.

Many doctors would disagree with my opinion.

[jackthehat]

Again, I can only provide you with anecdotal evidence...

My partner is lightly arthritic and takes Glucosamine tablets. She certainly feels it on any days she has forgotten to take a tablet.

I know of half-a-dozen people who take it and swear by it. It may not be rigorous scientific proof but I shall certainly go down that route should it become necessary.

[Rodge2]

Vet put my sister's dog on it. She seems better.

[slaney]

A good place to start when you want to look for good medical evidence is the Cochrane Database. They looked at 25 studies with 4,963 patients in 2009. There is some, but not totally convincing evidence that glucosamine may be helpful in osteoarthritis. On the plus side, it has little in the way of side effects.
Scroll down to plain language summary..

http://onlinelibrary....D002946.pub2/abstract

[Marijn]

I don't know how to "subscribe to a thread". So I've joined in so that I can follow your thread, because it's interesting.

[Old_Geezer]

The red link at the bottom of the original post.

[Marijn]

Oh yes! Thanks

[Clanad]

The results of study on race and show horses was conducted here in the U.S. a few years back re: the effctiveness of glucosamine/chondroitin in treating joint damage and pain.

It may contain some applicable informaiton:

"Dr Rodgers examined the horses if the trainer complained of soreness, improper gait transitions or lack of jumping impulsion. She evaluated the gait, and used flexion tests, radiographic changes and intra-articular anaesthesia to determine the source of the pain. If a diagnosis of distal tarsal pain was confirmed she injected the tarso-metatarsal and distal hock joint with corticosteroids and hyaluranon.

She found that the number of times she needed to inject the joints fell while the horses were receiving the glucosamine / chondroitin supplement. The frequency of distal tarsal joint injections fell from an average of 1.7 injections a year when the horses were not receiving glucosamine/chondroitin, to 0.85 injections a year once they were receiving the supplement. There was a marked reduction in frequency of injections after 5 - 8 months of treatment.

“Distal tarsitis is a progressive disease. It would be expected that with increasing age and the demands of show horse performance the horses would need more therapy, not less” Dr Rodgers points out. “In the light of this, the overall drop in the number of injections required and the decrease in injection frequency over the eight year study period can be seen as an even more convincing argument for the beneficial effects of long-term supplementation.”

Regular, twice daily administration of a combined glucosamine / chondroitin supplement resulted in longer duration of soundness and fewer joint injections. Six to eight months of regular administration were needed before the favourable response was seen."


For more details see:

Effects of oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplementation on the frequency of intra-articular therapy of the horse tarsus.
M R Rodgers
International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine (2006) 4, 155 - 162.

[smart1]

I have heard it works better when combined with Condroitin.

[slaney]

Interesting Clanad - I've looked at the original paper; Dr Rogers only studied
ten horses, so more studies would need to be done to reach statistical significance/provide solid evidence.

[rov1100]

A glass of milk daily would have more effect than glucosamine. Will save you a fortune at the same time.

[giveup]

Try codliver oil.

[pastafreak]

I think there are some studies that link wheat and other grains with osteoarthritis,as wheat is said to worsen inflammation. Speak to your doctor about eliminating wheat for a period to see if it makes any difference. I know several people for whom this has made an improvement.

[Wak]

Google for Apple Cider Vinegar,
Also
http://www.dailymail....re-passed-mother.html

[boxtops]

I take glucosamine with chondroitin, daily, and also the apple cider vinegar tablets. I have found that my mobility and hip pain relieves considerably.

I don't know what the evidence is, but I know it works for me, and that's good enough for me.

[Bonnyjars]

Thanks for all the input.
Please understand that I am not averse to anecdotal evidence becasue, hey, we all are different and I fully understand that what works for some may not be so effective for others. As a (now ex-) professional statistician I was hoping for some hard-line evidence, but it doesn't look as though it is going to be forthcoming so thiswill become an experiment of the sort "does it work for me?"
Part of my problem is that it looks like it is going to be an expensive experiment. It is expensive anyway but I am very allergic to shellfish and all preparations that I have found within a reasonable price range have warned about shellfish allergies -- so the alternatives that you-all have suggested will definitely be looked at too.
Once again, thank-you

[jackthehat]

Aldi sell 30 tablets (1 per day) for £ 1.49.........long enough for you to feel the benefits, hopefully, without breaking the bank. :o)

[shaneystar2]

It may well work for you Bonnyjars but it didn't work for me .I have no wish to put a damper on anything that may help you relieve the pain ,but I have severe whole body OE and Glucosamine did nothing for me in spite of taking it for quite a while and I think I've tried every trick in the book .
If there was a cure for arthritis people would be queuing around the block to get it.
If it was really severe he would have put you on something like Meloxicam or Diclofenac instead of advising Glucosamine .
Keep moving ,grit your teeth and take an anti inflammatory as and when :)

[slaney]

Bonnyjars - this is a link to various complementary therapies for osteoarthritis from Arthritis Research UK. They are graded for effectiveness and safety.

http://www.arthritisr...t/osteoarthritis.aspx

[shaneystar2]

That makes interesting reading Slaney especially with the top one being Capsaicin gel.
I use a gel to rub into my joints which I get from Germany .Don't laugh, but it's made for horses basically but has been adapted for human use .Not a cure in any sense but it does ease and cool my throbbing knees of a night :)