Thank you for visiting the Glucosamine Research
Center. This page contains links to current research on glucosamine,
usage information, clinical abstracts and the glucosamine product guide. Starting with the second link,
you will find links to actual cited peer reviewed clinical studies
and an easy to understand interpretation of every one of the results.
The GAIT/GUIDE Study Results Finally Released
After five years of study, two taxpayer funded, multimillion dollar blockbuster studies have released their results. Their conclusions will change the face of joint care for decades to come.
Glucosamine
Product Guide
Research into the leading commercial products available today.
Each product is evaluated by type, method of delivery, quality,
any additional ingredients and price.
Nutraceuticals
as Therapeutic Agents in Osteoarthritis
This study collected 13 studies and reviewed them to see what Glucosamine's
effect was on arthritis. Glucosamine was found to be much more effective
than placebo and at least equivalent if not superior in the long
term than Ibuprofen, without the deteriorating effects on the body
that NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen have been shown to have on the body
such as the digestive tract and other major organs. Different products
vary in how much Glucosamine they contain but the average amount
recommended was 1500 mg Glucosamine. The expected cost should be
from $30-$45 a month for the product.
Glucosamine
Sulphate for the Management of Arthrosis
This clinical abstract (published in 1980! - Glucosamine has been
studied in humans for well over 20 years) suggests that glucosamine
should be considered the basic therapy of choice for primary (develops
with age) or secondary (injury caused) arthrosis.
Pharmacokinetics
of Glucosamine in Man
Glucosamine was found to be effectively able to diffuse into the
body via oral (such as swallowed liquid) forms, IV (needles into
veins), intramuscular (shots into the muscle). All forms allowed
the glucosamine to be dispersed and absorbed into the body effectively
and thus all three methods are effective routes of administration
for Glucosamine. It can be safely said that oral routes (the kind
that does not involve needles) are most likely the most popular
method of administration.
Glucosamine
Sulfate Use and Delay of Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis
Glucosamine was again tested for a period of three years against
placebo in a placebo controlled double blind study, and the results
were astoundingly in favor of Glucosamine. Placebo joint narrowing
(How much "cushion" exists between the bones, more is
better) was much more pronounced over Glucosamine, showing -.29
to .09 mm DETERIORATION with placebo versus a -.06 to .14 mm GROWTH
with Glucosamine. Fewer patients with Glucosamine showed severe
narrowings over placebo and the side effect profiles for both placebo
and Glucosamine were the same.
Glucosamine
Sulfate Significantly Reduced Cartilage Destruction
Glucosamine was shown to be a structure (cartilage) regrowing drug.
In rabbits, the lesions that simulated osteoarthritis were much
smaller in the Glucosamine group and much larger in the group that
received nothing (the control group).
Clinical
Evaluation of Intra-Articular Glucosamine in Gonarthrosis (Knee
Arthritis)
A double blind clinical study that evaluated the effects of injected(!)
Glucosamine verses placebo. Glucosamine reduced pain to a significantly
greater degree than did placebo. The resulting joint flexibility
was much higher with glucosamine therapy. Note: Glucosamine does
*NOT* need to be injected to be effective. The liquid form will
provide quick and effective absorption without daily needle sticks
and the possibility of infections.
Conservative
Management of Spinal Osteoarthritis with Glucosamine Sulfate
Given the detrimental effects of NSAIDs on joints and other organs,
their use should be discouraged and their classification as a first
choice conservative treatment should be abolished. A more appropriate
treatment for arthritis would involve trying to keep the joints
mobile through exercise and diet, and using glucosamine sulfate
to aid in the pain reduction and regeneration of destroyed joints.
Glucosamine
Sulfate Compared to Ibuprofen in Osteoarthritis of the Knee
In clinical trials, Glucosamine was more effective than placebo
in controlling the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It was also found
to be more effective than Ibuprofen. In addition, a whopping 35%
of Ibuprofen users reported adverse events (generally stomach related)
with their treatment, versus only 6% of the Glucosamine group. (Remember,
hundreds of thousands of people use Ibuprofen every year.)
Therapeutic
Activity of Oral Glucosamine Sulfate in Osteoarthrosis
The patients report of pain, stiffness, and the mobility, tenderness
and swelling of the joint were measured during the trial. The patients
who received the Glucosamine experienced twice as much (or more)
pain reduction and this occurred twice as fast (or faster).
Glucosamine
Sulphate In Osteoarthritis - A Systematic Review
This was a study that reviewed other studies that have taken place
on Glucosamine, Ibuprofen (a NSAID) and placebo. In every study,
Glucosamine was shown to be always be more effective than placebo
and be atleast as effective (if not more so) than Ibuprofen, which
carries risks when it is used for long periods of time. Overall,
Glucosamine has been shown to be an effective therapeutic nutraceutical
for certain kinds and locations of arthritis with almost no side
effects.
Efficacy
and Safety of Glucosamine Sulfate Versus Ibuprofen in Patients with
Knee Osteoarthritis
Both glucosamine and ibuprofen significantly reduced the symptoms
of osteoarthritis with the trend of Glucosamine to be more effective.
After 2 weeks of drug discontinuation there was a remnant therapeutic
effect in both groups, with the trend to be more pronounced in the
Glucosamine group. Glucosamine was significantly better tolerated
than ibuprofen, as shown by the adverse drug reactions.
Antireactive
Properties of Glucosamine Sulfate
The therapeutic effects of Glucosamine with regard to the anti-inflammatory
activities seems comparable or superior to that of the known non-steroidal
anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin.
Compared to the NSAIDS, Glucosamine's side effects on the stomach
and digestive tract were virtually absent. Glucosamine also lacks
the eroditive effects of long term NSAIDS use.
For more Clinical Studies, Continue on to the Glucosamine
Research Page 2
Be sure to visit the Glucosamine
Product Guide for a review of commercially available glucosamine
products broken down by 9 different categories such as price per month, quality and type. Learn what the best products out there are
and how we ranked each.
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