People with arthritis often take a glucosamine supplement because of its purported ability to repair damaged joints as well as to reduce joint pain. There have been many research trials on the role of glucosamine in treating arthritis, and the results have been varied. It appears that glucosamine can be beneficial for certain people with arthritis. Talk to your doctor before using glucosamine,
Glucosamine Types
Not all glucosamine supplements are alike. Most types are either derived from sea life or manufactured synthetically. The American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, reports that while many glucosamine supplements contain a blend of different types, most of the research on its effectiveness has been conducted using a form called glucosamine sulfate.
How Glucosamine Works
Glucosamine is an essential component of many of the structures that make up healthy joints, including ligaments, cartilage and the fluid that lubricates them. According to Arthritis Today, this gives glucosamine the potential to keep cartilage healthier for longer, and to reduce swelling and pain in the joints. Arthritis tends to cause joint components to deteriorate over time. To counter this, glucosamine can increase hydration of the cartilage, which can maintain joint health.
Glucosamine and Arthritis
The AAFP reports that in general, glucosamine sulfate has the potential to decrease arthritis pain and to keep arthritic joints in good repair based on its structure and function. However, they also note that many glucosamine supplements contain a variety of other ingredients, including different types of glucosamine as well as pain-relieving agents like chondroitin. The AAFP says many clinical trials showed little statistical difference between the effects of glucosamine and that of either a placebo or other pain-relieving medications for most people.
Whom Can Glucosamine Help?
One group did fare better than others in randomized controlled glucosamine trials. The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, or GAIT, found that people with moderate to severe arthritis did receive more benefit from glucosamine as compared to the placebo, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In contrast, a group of people in the same trial with mild arthritis pain did not find glucosamine any more effective than the placebo.
Benefits of Glucosamine
Glucosamine can help relieve arthritis pain for some people; however, it is not effective as an arthritis treatment across the board. The AAFP's research review reported that while some studies were flawed, glucosamine did offer many people some relief from arthritis pain. Glucosamine is generally safe for people to take, meaning most people have little to lose by trying it. However, talk to your doctor before taking glucosamine or other supplements.
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