Many people turn to non-traditional medicine for their chronic pain conditions, including arthritis. Of the different dietary supplements marketed for arthritis, glucosamine is one of the most common. In general, the research supports the use of glucosamine as an arthritis treatment; however, it may not be effective for everyone. Before taking this or any supplement, consult your physician to discuss if this is a good treatment option for you.
Identification: What Glucosamine Is
Glucosamine is an amino sugar found in many of the structural components of joints in the body, such as ligaments and joint fluid. Glucosamine has the potential to help repair these components in unhealthy joints, and also to act as an anti-inflammatory. It can come from marine life skeletons, or may be produced synthetically in a lab. There is more than one type of glucosamine. The two most common, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, are glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate. Much of the available research focuses on these two, though many glucosamine supplements contain a blend of many different types
Potential Benefits of Glucosamine
Research for glucosamine supporting its use for people with arthritis varies. There has been extensive research on the glucosamine's use for arthritis treatment. In fact, the AAFP reports that over 20 randomized controlled trials regarding glucosamine and arthritis have been conducted. Overall, most research shows that glucosamine is safe, and that it does have anti-inflammatory properties that can potentially benefit people with arthritis. What varies, however, is whether or not glucosamine effectively controls pain in lieu of other commonly used arthritis medications.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
Glucosamine has similar effects as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs, on arthritis pain, Arthritis Today reports. In addition, there are studies to back up this claim. The AAFP reports that glucosamine can decrease inflammation and reduce pain enough to increase function. Research varies about its effectiveness in comparison to NSAIDs. The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, or GAIT, as described by Arthritis Today, revealed that for people with milder forms of arthritis, glucosamine was no better than an NSAID. However, those with moderate to severe arthritis received significant relief beyond that of the NSAID group.
Joint Space
Other research trials have assessed glucosamine's effects on joint integrity, including repairing damaged cartilage and narrowing joint space. The AAFP reports that two separate trials have found that glucosamine does reduce joint space, a common problem for people who have arthritis in their larger joints. However, the recent GAIT results found no difference between the knee joint integrity in the glucosamine groups versus the placebo group.
Considerations for Glucosamine Treatment
Based on the available research, glucosamine is effective for some people who have arthritis pain. However, it should not be the sole treatment for most when it comes to treating arthritis pain. It can be helpful for people with more severe forms of the disease, and is generally considered safe for most. In addition, it can be combined with other treatment approaches.
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