Glucosamine And Chondroitin - Physical And Complementary Therapies: Arthritis

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Glucosamine and chondroitin

Glucosamine and chondroitin are both chemical components of cartilage, which has raised the hope that supplements containing synthetic versions of these substances might help stop joint destruction and ease arthritis pain. And over the years, some people who have osteoarthritis have claimed to have less pain and stiffness when regularly taking such products.

A major study designed to answer a key question — whether these supplements relieve pain — concluded that the answer may depend on the severity of pain you experience. The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006, involved more than 1,500 people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants were randomly assigned to take glucosamine hydrochloride alone, chondroitin alone, a glucosamine-chondroitin combination, or the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex). The study found that, on the whole, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements — either taken alone or in combination — provided no more pain relief than a placebo, but that celecoxib did. But the study also revealed that a certain subgroup of people — those with moderate to severe pain — did experience greater pain relief by taking the glucosamine-chondroitin combination than those taking a placebo.

To complicate matters further, the GAIT study used glucosamine hydrochloride, which is a different formulation from the glucosamine sulfite that other studies have found effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain. Meanwhile, the answer to a second key question — whether taking glucosamine and chondroitin supplements will slow the process of cartilage destruction in the joints (as earlier studies have suggested) — won't be known until the GAIT researchers complete that portion of the study.

At this point, if you're wondering whether you should take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, the answer is: It depends. If you are experiencing moderate to severe osteoarthritis pain, try the glucosamine-chondroitin combination for two to three months. If you find it eases your pain, keep using it. If not, you might as well save your money. As always, if you choose to take these or any other alternative preparations, be sure to inform your physician.

Last updated:	September 05, 2008