A Scottish court is hearing the case of Norman Ferrie, a 64 year old retired engineer from Invergowrie, Angus, who died unexpectedly less than 2 months after starting a course of glucosamine.
Mr. Ferrie started taking the supplement in April or May of 2004 and became ill the end of June, 2004. He was admitted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee but ultimately died on July 3 of that year ofliver failure in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Glucosamine is a supplement made from lobster and crab shells and is used by many thousands of people around the world to relieve joint pain due to arthritis.
Dr. John Dillon, a consultant gastroenterologist and liver expert at Ninewells Hospital, told an inquiry at Perth Sheriff Court in Scotland that he could not prove Mr. Ferrie’s death was due to the supplement, but that the association was “very worrying”.
According to Dr. Dillon, Mr. Ferrie’s liver had been normal and something had attacked it over a period of a few weeks. “He had been taking glucosamine to help with pain and arthritis in his joints. The dating of his illness was within a very short time frame of starting to take that,” he said.
Dr. Dillon provided information regarding 2 other cases where patients had become ill after taking glucosamine. This has caused Dr. Dillon to call for public warnings about the potential dangers of herbal remedies and supplements. He believes they should be regulated like prescription drugs.
Goldshield Ltd, the company that produces the glucosamine supplement that Mr. Ferrie was taking, released a statement that around 1 billion tablets are sold each year in the UK and that studies show a positive link between glucosamine and health joints.
The court is expected to declare a ruling on Mr. Ferrie’s death next month.
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