Glucosamine: end of a discussion?

Osteoarthritis involves a deterioration of the cartilage. This overpowering disease touches a great proportion of the people. Marketed in the United States in the form of complements dietetic, glucosamine could attenuate the pains which are associated for him. But the proof of its effectiveness is long in coming…

Osteoarthritis can be the cause of handicaps and important pains, on the level of the articulations of the nape of the neck, the bottom of the back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Articulations having undergone a traumatism or too intensive requests, can also be touched. The destruction of the cartilage which plays the part of shock absorbers involves pains very handicapping.

A beneficial action on the long term

Many studies allot to glucosamine a beneficial effect in the treatment of osteoarthritis on the short term. But according to criteria's of the World Health Organization, the studies should last three years to be validated and to evaluate the side effects of this compound on the long term. In a publication of the Newspaper of the Medical American Association (JAMA) 1, the pr. Thimothy Mc Alidon of Boston University reviewed the 15 clinical trials published on the subject. And all or almost seemed to comprise many skews. The first stage thus consisted with the establishment of a comparison between glucosamine and a placebo on the long term.

Belgian scientists have just carried out this first step thanks to a study published in the famous English review The Lancet2. The researchers of the university of Liege divided 212 patients arthrosic in two groups: the first receiving a daily amount of 1.500 Mg sulphates glucosamide during three years and the second receiving only one placebo.

The researchers took then radiographies of the knees of the patients at the time of an effort one year and three years after the beginning of the treatment. They then noted an important reduction of space between the bones of the knee among patients receiving a placebo. This reduction by 0,31 mm testifies to the advance of the disease. In parallel, no reduction of this space could be observed at the people treated with glucosamine. An improvement of 25% of the symptoms was also noted, whereas a light aggravation was noted in the other group.

Results to confirm

Not having shown its effectiveness, glucosamine had not been recorded like a drug by Food and Drug Administration. Thus, it is distributed on the other side of the Atlantic only in the form of food complement. Very popular among the people suffering from osteoarthritis, its sales annually constitute a market of 400 million dollars. In Germany and Italy, it is distributed like drug. In France, the lack of scientific literature valid on the subject had led to the abandonment of this product. This last study should thus less make skeptics unquestionable expert and consequently occasion increase the glucosamine sales. In France, the lack of scientific literature valid on the subject had led to the abandonment of this product.

The hormonal treatment protects the articulations

It was known already that the substitute hormonal therapy (THS) of the menopause could have a protective effect with respect to the osteoporosis. But a new study suggests today that it could also prevent the loss of cartilage which deadens the articulation of the knee, thus preventing the appearance of rheumatic pains.

While following 81 post-menopause women, the Australian researchers found that the users of THS on the long term presented thicker cartilages at the level of the knees compared to those while having never used. The cartilage is the fabric making it possible to deaden the pressures exerted on the bones on the level of the articulations. Thus, osteoarthritis is marked by the disappearance of this shock absorber. The THS could offer a means of protection against this degenerative disease. The researchers of University Monash have even estimated the volume of cartilage among women under THS for 5 years compared to the not-users. The investigators found that on average, the thickness of the cartilage was higher than 8% for the first group.

his protective effect will have to be confirmed by fuller studies. The most waited remains without any doubt the vast international investigation Women Health Initiative led near 10.000 women whose results are awaited for 2004.

Glucosamine/Chondroitin Side Effects

The side effects of glucosamine and chondroitin are generally of a serious nature nao. This is in accordance with what I found in searching this subject. When not demonstrated or told in the studies, it has others 2 possible side effects of glucosamine and chondroitin that you can want to consider. If any reader to need to know, glucosamine and chondroitin are ingredients in a popular dietary supplement. The peoples of the main reason are making examination of this supplement are for the painful knees of the relief due to common osteodistrofia degenerative of aka of the illness.

First, glucosamine is derived from chitin in shields crustacean. The peoples who are allergic to the things as shrimp, the lobster and seafood must be cliente of this. Why? Because to be so safe as possible, if you allergy will have this, it is recommended that you: to number one, to be cliente of the possibility of a reaction; number two, either prepared for it; e third, if you you allergic will have any type of the history of worsening reactions you must certainly consult with its doctor before starting in glucosamine. A precaution that you can make examination is to get the same formula of glucosamine and chondroitin that he is used in a majority of the studies. That participants had only been given fine highly and to the ingredients purified, they cannot be a great reason to be no reaction there allergic in the studies. One another consideration must to the fact that chondroitin is derived from tracheae of the Bovídeos (cattle). Thus, in the theory, it could have a linking to the illness insane person of the cow. No occurrence was told, but it is an illness that makes examination of a long time if to reveal.

Another time, can be that to pierce with chondroitin purified, better fine either a way good for minimizing this risk, however small can be.