Quick facts about Glucosamine It is less toxic than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs It can worsen insulin resistance and so it should be used cautiously by patients with diabetes Patients who are allergic to shellfish should not use it Although there is no study to address the correct dose, human clinical trials suggest 1500 mg a day over a 12 week period should start to give pain relief There is some evidence (1,2) that glucosamine helps with pain in osteoarthritic patients but there is insufficient evidence to suggest that it “replaces the cartilage” or changes the disease process of osteoarthritis. Reginster and his fellow researchers (2) reported that patients with knee osteoarthritis who took glucosamine experienced greater pain relief than those who took placebo. It was a randomized placebo controlled trial with 212 patients over a 3 year period – the best study to date. More will soon be known about glucosamine’s efficacy one way or the other.
(1.McAlindon et al. JAMA 2000; 283: 1469-1475) (2.Reginster et al. Lancet 2001; 357: 251-256) Zimmer. Available from: http://http://www.centerpulseorthopedics.com/us/patients/knee/arthritis/knee_os…. [Accessed 7 Dec 2004]
