Another Study Reveals Benefits of Glucosamine

Many arthritis-sufferers swear by the supplement glucosamine to ease their pain. Recently, evidence has been mounting to back up their claim. A new study not only adds to that evidence but also gives a better understanding of how long it takes for glucosamine to begin working.

Glucosamine is a natural substance produced by the body. It is found primarily in joint cartilage where it plays an important role in maintaining joint health and resilience. Glucosamine supplements are widely available.

Previous studies have found some perceived benefit among the users, but the results have been controversial. Many of the studies have been criticized for using too low a dose, too short a treatment period, small numbers of participants, and a lack of tests to document actual changes in pain.

In this study, researchers attempted to overcome these shortcomings by looking at the effects of glucosamine supplements over a period of 12 weeks at a dose of 2000 mg per day. They also included tests to directly measure joint function and pain in people with knee pain. The results of the survey appear in the February 2003 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The study involved 24 people who took the glucosamine supplement and 22 who took a placebo. The patients ranged in age from 20 to 70 years. All participants suffered from knee pain due to previous cartilage damage or osteoarthritis that was severe enough to limit daily activities.

To measure the results, the participants answered questionnaires on perceived pain. They also performed physical tests such as a stair climb and duck walk to measure knee joint function.

Researchers found that general mobility improved over time in both groups, but this improvement happened more quickly among those who took the glucosamine, starting after about four to eight weeks of treatment.

The biggest benefits of glucosamine seemed to be in reducing the amount of perceived pain felt by participants. At the end of the study, 88 percent of those who took the glucosamine said their knee pain had improved compared to only 17 percent in the placebo group.

Researcher Rebecca Braham of the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at Monash University in Prahran, Australia and her colleagues say the results show that it takes at least four to eight weeks for the maximum benefit of glucosamine to appear. After four weeks of treatment, only 36 percent of users reported some pain relief. By week eight that number had grown to 68 percent, to end at 88 percent by week the 12, the last week.

Source: British Journal of Sports Medicine; WebMD

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