Results of the largest-ever glucosamine and chondroitin
trial have recently revealed the astonishing role these dietary
supplements can play in combating joint problems.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most widespread joint problem,
suffered by approximately eight million people in the UK. Commonly
affecting the knees, hips, spine and hands, symptoms include the
pain, swelling and stiffness of joints, often resulting in
decreased mobility. Previously thought to be irreversible, the
damage caused by OA may be halted or even reversed, as we now know
that during the earlier stages, cartilage cells in the joints are
very active and repair mechanisms produce new tissue that can often
counteract the damage.
In June 2001, following the accumulation of evidence from over
1,000 subjects taking part in clinical trials, the erstwhile
conservative American Arthritis Foundation issued a statement
declaring glucosamine to be an appropriate treatment for
osteoarthritis.
Chondroitin has lagged behind glucosamine regarding its efficacy
in the treatment of OA, with particular scepticism surrounding the
ability of the body to absorb its large molecules. However, in
1995, research demonstrated that small amounts were indeed able to
reach the bloodstream intact and clinical studies have demonstrated
the benefits of chondroitin supplementation for the alleviation of
knee arthritis compared with placebo treatment.
In an attempt to unravel the controversies regarding the
effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin, the National
Institutes of Health in the USA invested heavily in GAIT
(Glucosamine Arthritis Interventation Trial), the largest ever
undertaken on these supplements.
Co-ordinated by the University of Utah, the work is still going
on but results of the first phase have been recently reported. They
showed a positive effect of glucosamine in combination with
chondroitin for the treatment of OA and strongly supported the
previous positive outcomes for these supplements.
The GAIT study involved 1,500 volunteers who, having experienced
knee pain for at least six months preceding the trial, were
randomly assigned to take on a daily basis either (1) 1,500mg
glucosamine, (2) 1,200mg chondroitin, (3) a combination of both,
(4) an orthodox painkiller called Celebrex, or (5) a placebo.
Success was measured by a 20% improvement from baseline in a well
established pain score following six months of treatment.
The volunteers who benefited most in this study had the highest
knee pain scores at the beginning and for this subgroup it was
found that glucosamine plus chondroitin was more effective than
Celebrex in reducing pain.
Although orthodox medication for OA with non-steroidals (NSAIDs)
reduces pain, it does nothing to enhance the joint-repair
mechanisms. In contrast, reports show that in those patients who
received natural treatment, including glucosamine and chondroitin,
not only was the progression of OA halted but it was reversed.
The second phase of the GAIT study will be completed in under
two years’ time and hopefully provide sound scientific
support to underpin these clinical observations.
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