Current Arthritis News and Research » glucosamine http://4-arthritis-info.com Regular Updates on the Many Forms of Arthritis Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:30:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 New Study Indicates No Arthritis Relief with Glucosamine http://4-arthritis-info.com/new-study-indicates-no-arthritis-relief-with-glucosamine/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/new-study-indicates-no-arthritis-relief-with-glucosamine/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:46:05 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/2008/02/25/new-study-indicates-no-arthritis-relief-with-glucosamine/ A 2 year study conducted by Dutch researchers has concluded that glucosamine does not provide any improvement on pain, function or disease progression in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

222 people were involved in the study conducted by Dr. Rianne M. Rozendaal at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Half of them were [...] No related posts.]]> A 2 year study conducted by Dutch researchers has concluded that glucosamine does not provide any improvement on pain, function or disease progression in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

222 people were involved in the study conducted by Dr. Rianne M. Rozendaal at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Half of them were randomly assigned 1,500 mg glucosamine daily in the form of a glucosamine sulfate supplement, while the other half received a placebo. Physicians, patients and researchers were blinded to the group assignmtents.

The study participants had relatively early stage hip osteoarthritis, half of them for 3 years or less. In order to enhance the validity of the study, researchers required the glucosamine supplier to double-check that the tablets had the correct dosage. 93% of the subjects completed the entire study.

Pain and function levels were measured prior to the start of the study, every 3 months during the study and at the end. X-rays of the affected joints were taken at the beginning and end.

The researchers found that there was no significant effect on pain or function based on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain and function subscales, nor in stiffness, use of pain medication or progression of the disease. In addition, 15 of the study participants underwent hip replacement surgery which may have impacted the analysis.

Some researchers are calling for additional studies focused on individuals with more advanced arthritis, saying this study’s participants had little room for improvement due to the early stage of the disease.

A commentary published with the study called into question the efficacy of the glucosamine as a result of non-standardized glucosamine preparations.

The study was published in the February issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Originally posted 2008-02-25 19:46:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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]]> http://4-arthritis-info.com/new-study-indicates-no-arthritis-relief-with-glucosamine/feed/ 0 Glucosamine, Chondroitin May Not Help Osteoarthritis http://4-arthritis-info.com/glucosamine-chondroitin-not-help-osteoarthritis/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/glucosamine-chondroitin-not-help-osteoarthritis/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:45:23 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/?p=209 Similar to a Dutch study we reported on in February, results from a U.S. study indicates that glucosamine does not impede the progression of osteoarthritis.

The 2 year Dutch study of the benefits of glucosamine on patients with hip osteoarthritis found that there was no improvement in pain, stiffness, function or disease progression. In addition, 15 of the 222 participants had hip replacement surgery before the end of the study.

The current study, an extension of the National Institutes of Health-funded Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), did not measure effectiveness as a pain reliever, but specifically at impacts on disease progression.

In 2006, researchers from the GAIT trial reported that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements were no better than a placebo for use in reducing knee osteoarthritis pain. That conclusion was based on input from 1,600 participants who took either one, or both, of the supplements.

Of the original participants in the GAIT study, 572 participated in an 18 month extension of the trial. All of these patients were diagnosed with moderate to sever osteoarthritis. The rate of disease progression was measured using a specific X-ray protocol. Results at the end of the extension showed no significant difference between the glucosamine and placebo groups.

According to lead researcher Dr. Allen Sawitzke of the University of Utah School of Medicine: “While we found a trend toward improvement among those with milder osteoarthritis of the knee in those taking glucosamine alone, we were not able to draw any definite conclusions.

“That’s not the same as saying there is no difference. The result was influenced by the slow rate of progression for everybody. The study actually says more about what we need to do for the next investigation than for what patients should do.”

The results of the Utah study were published in the October, 2008 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Originally posted 2008-10-02 21:02:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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]]> http://4-arthritis-info.com/glucosamine-chondroitin-not-help-osteoarthritis/feed/ 1 Review of Arthritis Supplements http://4-arthritis-info.com/review-of-arthritis-supplements/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/review-of-arthritis-supplements/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:00:48 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/2008/03/14/review-of-arthritis-supplements/ Arthritis sufferers are bombarded by offers of supplements that are claimed to relieve the symptoms and reverse the effects of their arthritis. In fact, the supplement industry has introduced more than 800 claimed remedies for arthritis. So how are you to know which ones may really work, and which only separate you from your [...] No related posts.]]> Arthritis sufferers are bombarded by offers of supplements that are claimed to relieve the symptoms and reverse the effects of their arthritis. In fact, the supplement industry has introduced more than 800 claimed remedies for arthritis. So how are you to know which ones may really work, and which only separate you from your money?

The medical journal, American Family Physician, recently published an article in which they review the relevant research to identify which supplements may actually provide improvements in arthritis.

The reviewer’s to pick is glucosamine sulfate. There have been numerous studies on glucosamine. The authors, researchers at Creighton University in Omaha, state that more that 20 randomized studies involving more than 2,500 patients have been conducted.

As I have written in other postings, the efficacy of glucosamine can still be a controversial subject. This report indicates that the results may appear to be contradictory as a result of the variety of glucosamine formulations and the study methods. They state that studies that utilize glucosamine sulfate specifically provided consistent benefits for arthritis patients.

Another popular supplement is chondroitin. Prior studies for this supplement also show inconsistent results. Chondroitin is commonly sold in combination with glucosamine. The reviewers at American Family Physician found little evidence that chondroitin in combination with glucosamine is more effective than glucosamine sulfate alone.

The reviewers also identify a promising supplement called SAM-e, which stands for S-adenosylmethionine. A recent study compared SAM-e with the anti-inflammatory drug Celebrex. According to the study, Celebrex users experienced more relief after 1 month of treatment, but after 2 months there was no difference.

SAM-e also appears to have fewer gastrointestinal effects than most anti-inflammatory drugs. But it does have potential side effects, such as headache and insomnia. It also has the potential to interact with antidepressants and other drugs.

The report also covers the research on MSM, devil’s claw, turmeric and ginger, but concludes there isn’t enough evidence to support their use.

You can read the report here.

Originally posted 2008-03-14 23:07:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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]]> http://4-arthritis-info.com/review-of-arthritis-supplements/feed/ 0 Death May be Linked to Arthritis Supplement http://4-arthritis-info.com/death-may-be-linked-to-arthritis-supplement/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/death-may-be-linked-to-arthritis-supplement/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:46:23 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/2008/03/05/death-may-be-linked-to-arthritis-supplement/ 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 [...] No related posts.]]> 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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