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| Two new clinical studies on promising treatment options for osteoarthritis were presented at the 2005 American College of Rheumatology annual meeting. The studies indicate that glucosamine alone or glucosamine and chondroitin combined can alleviate joint pain with minimal side effects. Arthritis Research Center provides a brief synopsis of the study findings, the abstracts and resources for information on other supplements used for the management of arthritis. |
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In the GUIDE abstract ("The Effects of Glucosamine Sulfate on 6-Month Control of Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms vs. Placebo and Acetaminophen: Results from the Glucosamine Unum in Die Efficacy (GUIDE) Trial"), researchers concluded that "glucosamine sulfate at the oral once-daily dose of 1500 mg might be the preferred symptomatic medication in knee OA." The GUIDE study, which was a randomized, double-blind study, compared glucosamine with acetaminophen and placebo. The study showed that glucosamine sulfate was significantly more effective in easing joint pain compared with placebo, while acetaminophen was no better than placebo. All treatments were well tolerated.
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The GAIT study (The Efficacy of Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate in Patient with Painful Knee Osteoarthritis (OA): The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT)"), an NIH-funded study which "assessed the efficacy and safety of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone and in combination," compared both treatments with placebo and celecoxib in a double blind study. Study subjects were given 500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride and 400 mg chondroitin sulfate t.i.d. Researchers found that the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate effectively treated moderate to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis.
The findings offer effective options to patients, who are concerned about the side effects from prescription pain relievers and acetaminophen.
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Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. |
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Read Abstract |
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Glucosamine sulfate reduces osteoarthritis progression in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: evidence from two 3-year studies. |
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Read Abstract |
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Glucosamine sulfate use and delay of progression of knee osteoarthritis. |
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Read Abstract |
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Who Owns This Joint?
by David A. Mark, Ph.D. |
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David A. Mark, Ph.D. is President of dmark consulting LLC, a firm specializing in research management services for the functional food, food ingredient, dietary supplement and performance nutrition industries.
Read more about David A. Mark, Ph.D. |
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