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Copyright © 2010 Natural Standard (www.naturalstandard.com)
September 2010

Review Questions Benefits of Glucosamine, Chondroitin

A recent review of medical literature suggests that glucosamine, chondroitin or a combination of the two, may not improve joint pain or deterioration in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.

Glucosamine is a natural compound that is part of healthy cartilage. The review authors analyzed data from 10 randomized controlled trials that included a total of 3,803 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. The studies compared glucosamine, chondroitin or a combination of the two against placebo.

The researchers concluded that glucosamine and chondroitin, used alone or in combination, did not appear to reduce pain or minimize joint deterioration.

However, it is unclear what form of glucosamine was used in the reviewed studies. Glucosamine sulfate has shown consistent benefit in relieving pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. It has been proposed that glucosamine sulfate may improve other types of osteoarthritis and that it may have anti-inflammatory properties, which could be useful in treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The effects of glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine hydroiodide are not as well known.

For more information about glucosamine and chondroitin, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com
Wandel S, Juni P, Tendal B, et al. Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysis. BMJ 2010; 341:c4675.