No more bum knees - updates - report that glucosamine sulfate can slow progression of osteoarthritis - Brief Article

Better Nutrition, Jan, 2003

European researchers report that the dietary supplement glucosamine sulfate can slow the progression of osteoarthritis over long-term treatment.

In the extensive study, 202 patients received 1,500 milligrams (mg) of glucosamine sulfate once a day for three years. In that time their symptoms of osteoarthritis improved significantly, according to results of the study published October 14, 2002, in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The greatest benefit to treating osteoarthritis with glucosamine sulfate may be the relative lack of side effects when compared to allopathic treatments.

"Conventional anti-inflammatory drugs, including the new cox-2 inhibitors, have been associated with adverse side effects such as gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems," says Lucio Rovati, PhD, of the University of Naples, Italy, and co-author of the new glucosamine study.

"If we can contain the worsening of structural damage, we should be able to slow or even abolish the progression of the disability," he says.

"With two studies published in international peer-reviewed journals, there are no more doubts that the long-term utilization of glucosamine sulfate is able to control long-term symptoms, drastically reduce pain and improve articular functionality at any age," says Rovati.