Time for a reality check
In the e-Alert “Ready to Rumble” (12/1/04), I told you about a study that found glucosamine to be less effective than a placebo in relieving arthritis pain. In what was described as a “long-term study,” arthritis patients were followed for only six months. So where does the “long term” come in? All of the subjects had previously found glucosamine to be effective over a two-year period. The researchers were counting those two years as part of the complete study period.
If this were football there would be a flag on the play. To say the least.
The dubious conclusion of that study (which found glucosamine to be less effective than placebo) does a disservice to anyone who is looking for a natural way to relieve arthritis symptoms. So today we’ll take a look at another glucosamine study. The difference between the two? This one holds up quite well to a reality check.
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Joint space
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Glucosamine sulfate is an amino sugar that’s one of the primary components of cartilage. As we age, our bodies produce less glucosamine, which can inhibit the production of the synovial fluid necessary to maintain healthy joints and cartilage. When synovial fluid is diminished, the stage is set for the development of osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints such as the knees.
Glucosamine is also found in shellfish shells, which is the source of glucosamine supplements. Based on previous studies that have shown the effectiveness of these supplements in reducing inflammation and increasing the production of cartilage, researchers in Liege, Belgium, designed a trial to examine the effect of glucosamine sulfate on long-term symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in postmenopausal women. (Women tend to develop OA more than men do.)
As reported in the journal Menopause, the Belgium team analyzed the results of two separate trials that followed more than 300 postmenopausal women with knee OA for a period of three years in both trials. Radiographic images of the subjects’ knees were used to establish minimal joint space width at the beginning and end of the trial period. Severity of symptoms for each subject was also recorded.
The overall results showed that the OA symptoms of women who took glucosamine improved, while symptoms in the placebo group worsened. But even more dramatic were the radiographic image comparisons. Less than 7 percent of the women in the glucosamine group showed a significant joint space narrowing, while more than 20 percent of the placebo group experienced significant narrowing.
In their conclusion, the researchers noted that the results demonstrated for the first time that glucosamine may effectively inhibit the progression of knee OA, while also relieving OA symptoms in postmenopausal women.
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Patience rewarded
If you suffer from OA or another form of arthritis and you and your doctor decide to give glucosamine sulfate supplements a try, keep in mind that results may not be immediate.
In the e-Alert “C-ing Double” (6/12/03), I told you about a study conducted by researchers at the University of Western Australia. Fifty volunteers who experienced knee pain from cartilage damage or long-term wear and tear were followed for 12 weeks. Half the group took 2,000 milligrams of glucosamine daily, and the other half took a placebo. Almost 90 percent of the glucosamine group reported at least some amount of improvement after 12 weeks, compared to just 17 percent taking the placebo.
More importantly, most of the improvements for those taking glucosamine weren’t noticed over the first eight weeks of treatment. Many subjects who reported no relief at all in the first two months eventually began improving. And because the overall trend was toward improvement, the authors of the study concluded that continued use might provide steadily increasing relief.
So don’t be discouraged if results are minimal at first, because even eight weeks may not be long enough to determine if glucosamine supplements will be effective for you.
And one final note: Some studies suggest that glucosamine may interfere with the regulation of blood sugar levels, and may also play a role in insulin resistance. In two major studies, however, subjects showed little or no change in blood sugar levels. Nevertheless, there appears to be a basis for concern, so researchers advise glucosamine users who have diabetes to make more frequent checks of their blood sugar levels.
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HAD ENOUGH
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http://www.youreletters.com/t/84421/6626398/645922/0/
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and another thing
An HSI member named Larry wants to clear up some confusion about supplements.
In an e-mail, Larry writes: “I have severe prostate cancer. I have been fighting for six years and I am holding my own. My problem is that there are so many different supplements mentioned by so many different people that the subject has become very confusing. Could you please write on this subject and explain the supplements and the dosage at one time in order to clear up the confusion?”
Glad to help, Larry. I asked HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., to give us his take on Larry’s question.
“The list can get as lengthy as the bank account permits. As for the diet, I’d consider cutting way back on the red meat, and I’d increase digestive enzymes, freeing up the body, so to speak, to apply more energy – and enzymes – to fighting the battle at hand instead of just breaking down red meat fibers.
“However, the key point here, after the diagnosis is made, is that supplements alone at this stage should not be considered therapeutic – only adjunctive until a good doc gets involved.”
Dr. Spreen also notes that severe prostate cancer should not be taken lightly, especially if the patient is less than 60 years old. He writes: “If I were involved in such a struggle, and I were interested in non-toxic (i.e.; alternative) approaches, I’d be under the strict care of a practitioner who had been involved in such fights for years. Practitioners include Jonathan Wright, M.D., of Tacoma, WA; one of the doctors at the Atkins’ Center in New York, and Hugh Riordan, M.D., of Wichita, KS.”
Hopefully this information will be helpful – and healthful – to Larry and others who are coping with prostate cancer.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
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Sources:
“Glucosamine Sulfate Reduces Osteoarthritis Progression in
Postmenopausal Women With Knee Osteoarthritis: Evidence
From Two 3-Year Studies” Menopause, Vol. 11, No. 2,
March/April 2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
“Glucosamine Sulfate Reduces Arthritis Progress in
Postmenopausal Women” Life Extension Foundation,
3/19/04, lef.org
“The Effect of Glucosamine Supplementation on People
Experiencing Regular Knee Pain” British Journal of Sports
Medicine, Vol. 37, 2003, bjsm.bmjjournals.com
