Physicians are not always up on the latest research, and they tend to have their own bias, so I always take what they say with a grain of salt and look into various things myself - trying to use references that make sense, maybe even reading a journal article.
Herbal, naturalist etc sources I may consider but with significantly more skepticism.
Glucosamine:
Personal experience, and experience of others that I know. (Anecdotal evidence - but if it works, hey).
There is scientific evidence that it works in some way (see below) (also: "more research is necessary").
I find it takes about a month to have a positive effect, and if I stop taking it for a few weeks, I start to feel it.
Also, FWIW, it it works in dogs (and I had a very old dog that showed positive effects - very effective on her - soon after consuming it).
Some references, web sites that hopefully know what they are talking about.
Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-glucosamine/art-20362874
Research on glucosamine use for specific conditions shows:
- Osteoarthritis. Oral use of glucosamine sulfate might provide some pain relief for people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Some research shows that it may also help slow knee joint degeneration associated with osteoarthritis. More studies are needed to determine the benefits of glucosamine sulfate supplements for osteoarthritis of the hip, spine or hand.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. Early research suggests that oral use of glucosamine hydrochloride might reduce pain related to rheumatoid arthritis. However, researchers didn't see an improvement in inflammation or the number of painful or swollen joints.
WebMD:
webmd.com
Health BenefitsGlucosamine supplements can provide some important health benefits. Early trials suggest that glucosamine may have some antioxidant effects that can improve your eye health — which is particularly helpful for people with conditions like glaucoma.
In addition, glucosamine can provide benefits like:
Reduced Joint Pain
Studies around the world have shown that glucosamine appears to reduce joint pain, especially among people with osteoarthritis. In fact, the scientific support for glucosamine is so strong that the compound is available as a medicinal substance — not just as a supplement — in the U.K. and other areas of Europe.
Health BenefitsGlucosamine supplements can provide some important health benefits. Early trials suggest that glucosamine may have some antioxidant effects that can improve your eye health — which is particularly helpful for people with conditions like glaucoma.
In addition, glucosamine can provide benefits like:
Reduced Joint Pain
Studies around the world have shown that glucosamine appears to reduce joint pain, especially among people with osteoarthritis. In fact, the scientific support for glucosamine is so strong that the compound is available as a medicinal substance — not just as a supplement — in the U.K. and other areas of Europe.
May Improve Bone Health
While more research needs to be done, early studies suggest that glucosamine supplements may help prevent the progression of osteoporosis post-menopause. Glucosamine appears to help reduce the weakening of bones by supporting healthy bone growth. This makes the supplements especially helpful for people who are at risk of developing osteoporosis as they age.
Mt Sinai. (with research references on web site)
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/glucosamine
OsteoarthritisResults from several scientific studies suggest that glucosamine supplements may be an effective treatment for OA, particularly OA of the knee or hip. In general, these studies suggest that glucosamine:
- Reduces OA pain
- Improves function in people with hip or knee OA
- Reduces joint swelling and stiffness
- Provides relief from OA symptoms for up to 3 months after treatment is stopped
However, the largest clinical trial so far, the 2006 Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), showed conflicting and somewhat confusing results. The study of about 1,600 people with OA of the knee found that glucosamine alone, or in combination with chondroitin, did not reduce pain in the overall group, although it did appear to lessen pain among those with moderate-to-severe OA of the knee. The study has raised questions for further research. Researchers are now studying whether the glucosamine chondroitin combination may help people with more severe OA.
A second phase in 2008 looked at participants who continued with the study for another 28 months. They were tested to see whether glucosamine or chondroitin (together or alone) slowed the loss of cartilage in their knees. They showed no difference in cartilage loss compared with people who took placebo. But all groups, those taking placebo, those taking both supplements, and those taking only one supplement, lost less cartilage than expected. Other studies show that people with OA who took glucosamine (1,500 mg once a day) experienced greater improvement in their condition compared to people who took 100 mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) 3 times a day.
Most studies show that glucosamine needs to be taken for 2 to 4 months before it is effective, although you may experience improvements sooner. Glucosamine and chondroitin can be used along with NSAIDs to treat OA.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis are two inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) marked by chronic, frequent, bloody diarrhea. Preliminary evidence suggests that N-acetyl glucosamine oral supplements or enemas may help improve symptoms of IBD in children who have not improved with standard medical treatment. However, the study was small and lacked a control group. So it is impossible to say whether glucosamine really worked. More research is needed.
CancerPreliminary evidence suggests that glucosamine inhibits cancer cell growth. In one study, use of glucosamine and chondroitin was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer after 5 years of follow up. More research is needed.
Other:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK216045/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6035477/
Given the effectiveness of these symptomatic slow-acting drugs, oral chondroitin is more effective than placebo on relieving pain and improving physical function. Glucosamine showed effect on stiffness outcome. Regarding on the limited number of combination therapy, further studies need to investigate the accurate effectiveness. This information accompanied with the tolerability and economic costs of included treatments would be conducive to making decisions for clinicians. |
