Glucosamine/Chondroitin

The landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) study comparing glucosamine, chondroitin, glucosamine plus chondroitin, celecoxib, and placebo for OA was published recently.26 Glucosamine, chondroitin, and their combination were no more effective than placebo in decreasing pain symptoms in 1583 patients with knee OA after 24 weeks. 

ConsumerLab.com is an independent testing company that evaluates whether certain dietary supplements have met their standardization claims. Dietary supplements that have been tested include herbs (ginkgo, saw palmetto, ginseng), vitamins (vitamin C), and others (glucosamine, chondroitin, SAMe). Products that meet the German testing standards are published at the ConsumerLab.com website [33]. 

Because of their relative safely, a trial of glucosamine-chondroitin may be reasonable in patients considering alternatives to traditional OA treatment. Dosing should be at least glucosamine sulfate 1,500 mg/day and chondroitin sulfate 1,200 mg/day in divided doses. 

Clegg D et al Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritis. N Engl J Med 2006 354 795. [PMID 16495392]... 

Finally, the use of DMOADs (viscosupplementation, glucosamine, chondroitin) to restore joint function in osteoarthritis is fairly new, and it is not clear if these techniques will have any side effects that will have a direct impact on physical rehabilitation. Likewise, it remains to be seen if there are any rehabilitation techniques (exercise, physical agents) that could enhance the effectiveness of DMOADs. It is hoped that these techniques will work synergistically with physical therapy to improve function in patients with osteoarthritic joints. 

It can be seen in Table 3 that many common disease states are being treated by self-medication with nutraceuticals joint pain, particularly caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis (OA) is both widespread, and also often treated with glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM by this population. Impotence and insomnia have high incidence amongst this population, and are treated with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and melatonin, respectively, but there is also a substantial incidence of degenerative eye conditions, often treated... 

Coenzyme QIO Melatonin DHEA Acetylcarnitine SAMe n-3-Fatty acids Carotenoids, e.g., lutein/lycopene Carotenoids, e.g., lutein/lycopene n-3-Fatty acids Soy isoflavonoids/protein Green tea extracts Octacosanol/policosanol Resveratrol Pycnogenol Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM... 

Neck, back, or joint pain 25.3 Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM... 

In addition to single entity glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM products, there are also a number of combination products with glucosamine. Trials with combinations of glucosamine and chondroitin showed improvement of symptoms in one group of patients, but in another group, only those with mild to moderate OA showed improvement. Methylsulfonylmethane is also used in combination with glucosamine and... 

Scroggie, D.A. Albright, A. Harris, M.D. The effect of glucosamine-chondroitin supplementation on glycosylated hemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus a placebo-controlled, double-blindM, randomized clinical trial. Arch. Intern. Med. 2003,163 (13), 1587-1590. 

Leffler, C.T. Philippi, A.F. Leffler, S.G. Mosure, J.C. Kim, P.D. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and manganese ascorbate for degenerative joint disease of the knee or low back a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Mil. Med. 1999, 164 (2), 85-91. 

Tallia, A.F. Cardone, D.A. Asthma exacerbation associated with glucosamine-chondroitin supplement. J. Am. Board Fam. Pract. 2002, 15, 481 84. 

Asthma has reportedly been exacerbated by the use of a glucosamine-chondroitin supplement for osteoarthritis (28). 

Scott GN. Interaction of warfarin with glucosamine-chondroitin. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2004 61(11) 1186. 

The nine most commonly used complementary medicines in Europe and North America are derived from St John s wort, saw palmetto, Gingko biloba, black cohosh, glucosamine/chondroitin, SAM-e, ephedra, ginseng, and kava. While there is a certain amount of contemporary fashion that seems to govern which products sell best, all have a long tradition in complementary therapy. These... 

In contrast, a large scale American study (Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, GAIT) between 2006 and 2010 led to a fimdamentally different conclusion. In this, 1500 patients were treated with glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin and placebo in this period, each with a dose of 500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride and 400 mg of chondroitin three times a day. The treatment was no... 

Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT). Primary and ancillary study results. 

Deal, C.L., Moskowitz, R.W. (1999) Nutraceuticals as therapeutic agents in osteoarthritis. The role of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hydroUsate. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America, 25 (2), 379-395. 

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