Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on mon 29 jan 01
Okay, gang---Here's some hardcore evidence on Glucosamine. Finally.
Because I work in the health field I get news of new research breakthroughs
through a news service.
Sandy
Study Looks At Osteoarthritis
<<...OLE_Obj...>> January 26, 2001
LONDON (AP) - The popular nutritional supplement glucosamine sulfate could
be the first treatment to slow the progression of osteoarthritis, new
research suggests.
Boston University Medical Center arthritis expert Tim McAlindon said the
report by Belgian scientists, published this week in The Lancet medical
journal, is a landmark in osteoarthritis research.
"Scarce currency has been given to the notion that progression of
osteoarthritis could be retarded pharmacologically, let alone by a
nutritional product," he said. "The report ... may radically change this
situation."
Osteoarthritis is a painful degenerative joint disease that affects the
knees, hips, back and the small joints in the fingers. It afflicts about 4
percent the population and is present in almost everyone by the age of 70.
Glucosamine sulfate is a synthetic version of a body substance that helps
build cartilage, the tough tissue that lines the joints. Laboratory studies
have suggested it might impede cartilage destruction, though whether it does
so in humans remains to be seen.
The supplement is marketed for the treatment of arthritis and is sold over
the counter in health food stores in the United States and Britain. In parts
of Europe, it is licensed as a prescription drug.
More arthritics take glucosamine and its companion nutritional supplement,
chondroitin, than take traditional painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and
often unbeknownst to their doctors, said Dr. Jack Klippel, medical director
of the American Arthritis Foundation.
Previous studies have indicated glucosamine could dull the pain of
arthritis, but experts say the latest study is a watershed because it shows
for the first time that it could improve the structure of the joints.
"This provides reasonably compelling evidence that it improves the disease,"
Klippel said. "This will lead to greater acceptance of glucosamine as a
reasonable and safe treatment for osteoarthritis."
The study by scientists at the University of Liege, Belgium, involved 212
people with arthritic knees. Half were given glucosamine sulfate tablets
daily for three years and the others were given dummy pills.
The researchers compared their knee X-rays at the beginning of the study,
after one year on the tablets and after three years to determine the
progress of the disease.
"The results are impressive," McAlindon said. "Patients assigned to
glucosamine experienced significant improvements in pain and disability that
were sustained for the three years of the study, whereas the scores among
the placebo group worsened."
Side effects were the same for both pills. "Glucosamine sulfate could play
an important part in the long-term therapy of osteoarthritis," McAlindon
said.
The findings may, however, stir debate over the regulation of nutritional
supplements, Klippel said.
"If this is going to become an important way to treat osteoarthritis, it
will lead to questions about how the consumer will be able to tell exactly
how much glucosamine is in which supplement brand."
The study used pure glucosamine sulfate and the researchers said they don't
know if other glucosamine products or mixtures such as those sold as dietary
supplements would yield the same results.
The study was paid for by the Italian pharmaceutical company the Rotta
Research Group of Milan, which makes osteoarthritis drugs.
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserve
Wendy Hays on tue 30 jan 01
Hmmmm...how MUCH Glucosamine per day?
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