About Glucosamine

The dietary supplement glucosamine sulphate has been known to reduce the severity of osteoarthritis symptoms in the short term. But now researchers have achieved the same effect in the longer term.

What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Arthritis and osteoarthritis are often used interchangeably. Osteoarthritis arthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage.  Cartilage is the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones.  Bits of cartilage may break off and cause pain and swelling in the joint between bones. This pain and swelling is called inflammation. Over time the cartilage may wear away entirely, and the bones will rub together.

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint but the most usual types are:

• osteoarthritis of hip 
• osteoarthritis of knee
• osteoarthritis of spine

Causes of osteoarthritis

Osteo arthritis  can be caused by being overweight , getting older , due to joint injury, genetic defects in joints or cartilage or stresses on the joints from certain activities.
Osteoarthritis symptoms

• Joint stiffness after sitting or laying down for a long time 
• Swelling or tenderness in one or more joints 
• A crunching feeling, or the sound of bones rubbing together

Osteoarthritis care

Patients must take care to improve joint function through both rest and exercise. Osteoarthritis exercises can be learnt from your physiotherapist or doctor.

They must maintain a healthy body weight through proper diet to control pain and achieve a healthy lifestyle. 

How is osteoarthritis pain treated?

The only current treatments for osteoarthritis are painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, which are also given to dull pain. Some chronic osteoarthritis patients undergo joint replacement surgery.
Glucosamine for osteoarthritis

In a research study carried out in Belgium, patients with a severe form of the disease either received a daily 1,500 mg dose of a form of the compound, or a placebo over a period of three years.  Those patients who completed the full course of treatment showed a 20-25% improvement in their symptoms, compared with slight worsening of symptoms in the placebo group.

Dr Tim McAlindon from Boston University Medical School, USA, said the study was a landmark piece of research.

He said: “It is time for the [medical] profession to accommodate the possibility that many nutritional products may have valuable therapeutic effects and to regain the credibility of the public at large”.

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