Glucosamine - joint problem

[pucman]

Anybody taken any glucosamine for joint problems ?

Does it really work ? Which brand to buy ?

What about chondroiten ?

[arthas1]

The Latest Major Clinical Trial Results Are In!
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Are Better Than Pain Killers!
With the ever increasing interest on how to overcome the limitations of living with osteoarthritis, particularly with two major prescription drugs (Vioxx and Bextra) removed from the market, and concerns about long term NSAID usage, two long-anticipated major clinical studies have recently found that Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate, two of the major ingredients in Flexicose, work even better than common pain killers!

*The "GAIT" Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial - Glucosamine Effectiveness (13 Universities - United States Study)
Highlights: After five years of recruiting, testing and analyzing, this trial excitingly reports, “Combination glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is effective in treating moderate to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis.”

Under the direction of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), one of the world’s foremost medical research centers, 13 highly prestigious research universities in the United States performed this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel assignment, efficacy study on over 1,500 osteoarthritis sufferers. Each participant was given a daily dose of either:

--glucosamine hydrochloride (one of the main ingredients in Flexicose)
--chondroitin sulfate (one of the main ingredients in Flexicose)
--some combination of both
--200 mg of the prescription painkiller celecoxib, a cox-2 drug (Celebrex®)
--or a placebo

for 24 weeks. All patients' pain levels were evaluated at the beginning of the study and again at the end of the four weeks. The Glucosamine and Chondroitin combination [both are the main ingredients in Flexicose] was found to significantly reduce pain compared to placebo AND Celebrex® (celecoxib), using the WOMAC Pain Index (Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index). This study marks the very first time that a well designed study of this scale has been done on a supplement and the results were shocking to many but exactly what we at DTC Health, Inc have known for years. This study was conducted by the National Institutes of Health at thirteen distinguished colleges, using taxpayer’s – not a manufacturer’s - dollars. These results represent a monumental victory for everybody who takes dietary supplements for their health and well-being.

At about the same time the University based GAIT study results were released in the United States, an independent Hospital based European study (known as the GUIDE study) released its results. They too, showed the extraordinary benefits of glucosamine.

*The Glucosamine Unum-in-Die (Once a Day) Efficacy (GUIDE) Trial - Joint Discomfort (13 Hospitals - European Study)

Highlights: “Glucosamine sulfate…might be the preferred symptomatic medication in knee osteoarthritis.” Dr Herrero-Beaumont of the Fundacíón Jiménez Díaz in Madrid, found glucosamine sulfate to be more effective than the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen for joint discomfort in a multicenter, randomized, placebo- and reference-controlled, double-blind study. This means the study was done at multiple hospitals, was randomized to prevent bias, tested against both placebo and real medications and the doctors did not know who was getting the placebo or the glucosamine. This was an extraordinarily well designed, multimillion dollar study and the results speak for themselves.

The Glucosamine Unum in Die Efficacy (GUIDE) trial took place in 13 different European hospitals and compared a 1,500mg daily dose of glucosamine sulfate and a much larger 3,000 mg dose of the OTC drug Acetaminophen (commonly found in Tylenol, Excedrin, and many others) to a placebo in 318 patients. After 24 weeks of monitoring osteoarthritis sufferers, the study clearly showed superior effectiveness of the glucosamine dietary supplement (even at half the dosage of the drug) on many levels of discomfort and mobility. The study confirmed that glucosamine was shown to be more effective (at the same dose contained in a daily dose of Flexicose) than the most commonly used pain reliever, acetaminophen!

What does this mean for me?
It has taken over five years for the official results of these well designed studies to finally scientifically prove the effectiveness of Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate. Now that glucosamine and chondroitin in combination has been shown to work at least as well as Celebrex or NSAIDS, with a far better safety profile, the question remains - what brand is the best? As is true of most things in life, you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, many people try to save a few dollars even on the important things - and as a result, their health suffers. Usually it is ok to try and save a few bucks here and there, but when your health is at stake, find a high quality product, such as Flexicose, that simply works the first time. Even though Flexicose contains superior quality glucosamine, Flexicose costs less than a dollar a day.

Life-changing results!
We at DTC Health, the markers of Flexicose, know that Flexicose is an astonishingly powerful product that will promote maximum joint health and flexibility. Studies prove it and each and we put our money where our mouth is. Every bottle is backed with a 100% risk free, 90 day money back guarantee. Join the tens of thousands of people in over 100 different countries worldwide that use Flexicose for their (and their pet's) joint pain and discomfort. Try Flexicose for yourself today - risk free - by clicking here. Live life the way it should be, with Flexicose.

[palmdoc]

Wow, what a positive spin on the GAIT study.
Actually, Osteoarthritis supplements fail the test (http://medicine.com.my/wp/?p=686)

[tan_r]

My wife used to suffer unbearable pains when she climbs the stairs and I can attest that glucosamine worked for her despite what some reports may say. PM me if you wish to know the brand she takes.

[arthas1]

Wow, what a positive spin on the GAIT study.
Actually, Osteoarthritis supplements fail the test (http://medicine.com.my/wp/?p=686)

hmmmmmmmmm :p

[pucman]

Please don't quote anything from internet ! There are products who claim to do a lot of things :rolleyes: but are found to be ineffective. ie. there are a lot of quack products in the market.

That's why members experience are more important.

[arthas1]

Please don't quote anything from internet ! There are products who claim to do a lot of things :rolleyes: but are found to be ineffective. ie. there are a lot of quack products in the market.

That's why members experience are more important.

owh..ok ..but i think my granma uses it.. Viatril S ;)

[yankeat]

in my family, my brother, mother and myself takes glucosamine.

For my brother, 27, he's taking GNC's Glucosamine Chondriotin 500mg. He's a vegetarian and is taking it as a necessary supplement he missed out by not taking meat.

My mother has been taking Glucosamine sulphate as advised by specialist, to treat his hand's joint problem. It seems it reduces a bit of the problem, but she needs a bit longer to see the effect.

As for myself, I have been a regular jogger & has experienced some knee problem. Have been taking generic 500mg Glucosamine Sulphate 500mg 2x a day for 2 months now. It seems to help my knee pain, but until now I am still resting my knee and have not been jogging. I can feel that it helps reducing the pain, but I'm not sure yet if it can 100% help heals my knee problem.

According to the pharmacist that has been giving me advise, people usually take a course of glucosamine 500mg 3x a day for a month and it needs around 1 month to see the effect.

[palmdoc]

My wife used to suffer unbearable pains when she climbs the stairs and I can attest that glucosamine worked for her despite what some reports may say. PM me if you wish to know the brand she takes.


Actually the GAIT study does suggest there is a subset of patients in the study who might benefit. Overall my impression is that some (unfortunately the minority of) patients do improve as far as pain control goes. Generally if you find that there is no improvement after about 3 months, no point continuining.

[pucman]

in my family, my brother, mother and myself takes glucosamine.

.

It seems that your family didn't find a good brand because the effects seem to be slow. Different brands have different quality, that's what I found from internet.

But which is the best local quality. Maybe forummers can tell us.

[palmdoc]

For those contemplating OA supplements, I'll repeat what the New England Journal of Medicine editorialist recommended (emphasis is mine)



If patients choose to take dietary supplements to control their symptoms, they should be advised to take glucosamine sulfate rather than glucosamine hydrochloride and, for those with severe pain, that taking chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine sulfate may have an additive effect. Three months of treatment is a sufficient period for the evaluation of efficacy; if there is no clinically significant decrease in symptoms by this time, the supplements should be discontinued.

Ref: Marc C. Hochberg. Nutritional Supplements for Knee Osteoarthritis - Still No Resolution. N Eng J Med February 23, 2006 Volume 354:858-860

[hmckl]

[QUOTE=palmdoc]For those contemplating OA supplements, I'll repeat what the New England Journal of Medicine editorialist recommended ...............

The management of joints pain has always been troublesome and difficult ..... and in the line of duty, do come across hundreds of patients with that complaints
For most of us, we just have these niggering pain that limit your movements/activities; but for some it can be so debilitating that sleep are disturbed. :(
The proven management of joints pain (and in most cases .... it would be osteoarthritis -- the so called 'degenerative joint problem' or 'wear and tear') would be education, wt reduction and phyisotherapy. But lazy modern patients would never go for that. Popping pill would be a lot easier :)
Taking pain killers will help ; but the worry of long term side effects is forever there. Glucosamine sulphate is classified in Malaysia as 'food supplement'; that in itself means less side effects, we hope :p
we use a lot of glucosamine sulphate mainly because
i) it is what we have now for 'lazy' patients
ii) there is no doubt that some patients responded well to it
iii) a trial of 3 to 6 months is suggested for all patients
iv) we do limit the recommendation of glucosamine to 'recognised' and 'proven' brands
(and by that, we do not mean the companies that sponsored our overseas trips or weekend golfs :D )
The current Malaysian guidelines for osteoarthritis
glucosamine sulphate is under 'consideration group' :)

The short answer : my mum is using it as
a) I can afford it
b) almost no side effects
c) it 'may' help :D

[DoubleJack]

Anybody taken any glucosamine for joint problems ?

Does it really work ? Which brand to buy ?

What about chondroiten ?

Ya it works..My mom takes it also my aunt. I think they bought it from this company called herbalife...the product is called er..joint support..or somthing like that!

[pucman]

Ya it works..My mom takes it also my aunt. I think they bought it from this company called herbalife...the product is called er..joint support..or somthing like that!

Mind telling us how much does it cost and how long to see the effect ?

[palmdoc]

Be cautious about testimonies from what you read about "yay it works" type posts you see in public forums. This is not a proper gauge of overall efficacy. Firstly, there may be other factors contributing to the peorson's apparent improvement which are not mentioned. Secondly, you don't get the big picture. There may be for instance 50 other people for which Glucosamine did not work for every 1 who said it did.
I agree with hmckl - weight loss and excercise/physio to strengthen the muscles supporting the affected joints are very important. They will go a long long way to alleviating OA.

[starrnorth]

To cut a long short, glucosamine has been approved as an Adjuvant to treatment of osteoarthritis.

[kokomo]

Can a G6PD case patient consume this product? Once consume and it heals the joint pain, can we stop consuming it? I mean if we stop consuming it, will the pain comes back. What I heard from pharmacies, this is a long term medication. Once start taking, it should not stop.

Anyway, my main question is can a G6PD case consume this? :confused: