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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 X-rays were taken at the start of the study and again at one and two years. Joint space width was measured on 581 knees from 357 patients. None of the trial groups showed significant improvement. But the group taking glucosamine had the least change in joint space width, followed by the groups taking chondroitin, celecoxib, a placebo, and the combination of both supplements, the study found.
If someone with arthritis asked his advice about taking glucosamine, Sawitzke said, "I would ask you why you want to. If it is pain, I would try it for a month and, if you felt better, continue. If it is to slow progression, I would say there is insufficient data. It might be years before you know if there is benefit or no benefit."
Andrew Shao, vice president for science and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the supplement industry trade group, said the study "has some severe limitations, because the decline in joint space was much less than the researchers expected."
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"The message for consumers," Shao added, "is that this study doesn't provide us with any meaningful insight whatever, and people should continue to use their products."
Previous studies have not been favorable for glucosamine. A Dutch report earlier this year said the supplement didn't help people with arthritis of the hip. And a 2007 review of 15 studies found no convincing evidence that glucosamine works against arthritis.
The picture remains unclear, Sawitzke said.
"I'd hate to give up on something that might have benefit across the board, but at the same time, we don't have evidence that it's there yet," he said.
More information
Learn more about osteoarthritis and its treatment from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
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