Glucosamine: No Relief For Hip Arthritis?
Wednesday February 20, 2008
A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found that the popular arthritis supplement glucosamine sulfate doesn't seem to be better than a placebo for people with mild arthritis in their hips.
There were 222 people with mild hip osteoarthritis in the study. Half of the group took 1,500 mg of glucosamine sulfate daily and the other half took a placebo. At the end of the study, researchers found no evidence that glucosamine had an effect on pain, function or x-rays.
Although there have been many studies on glucosamine for knee arthritis, this was the first large study examining the use of glucosamine for hip arthritis. Some critics in the supplement industry say that a flaw in the study was that many patients had mild arthritis and didn't have much pain to begin with (only 19% of people in the placebo group used pain medication), so there was little room for improvement. More research is needed.
Related Articles:Rozendaal, RM, Koes, BW, et al. Effect of Glucosamine Sulfate on Hip Osteoarthritis. A Randomized Trial. 19 February 2008 148.4 268-277
There were 222 people with mild hip osteoarthritis in the study. Half of the group took 1,500 mg of glucosamine sulfate daily and the other half took a placebo. At the end of the study, researchers found no evidence that glucosamine had an effect on pain, function or x-rays.
Although there have been many studies on glucosamine for knee arthritis, this was the first large study examining the use of glucosamine for hip arthritis. Some critics in the supplement industry say that a flaw in the study was that many patients had mild arthritis and didn't have much pain to begin with (only 19% of people in the placebo group used pain medication), so there was little room for improvement. More research is needed.
Related Articles:Rozendaal, RM, Koes, BW, et al. Effect of Glucosamine Sulfate on Hip Osteoarthritis. A Randomized Trial. 19 February 2008 148.4 268-277
Comments
Sorry on previous post - study was 2 years (significant time to show results). I still stand by my previous comments. I do not know anyone who takes or recommends just glucosamine looking for osteoarthritis of joint pain relief.