Glucosamine Research

Thank you for visiting the Glucosamine Research Center. This page contains links to current research on glucosamine, usage information, clinical abstracts and the glucosamine product guide.

The GAIT/GUIDE Study
Description of the clinical study on glucosamine and chondroitin.

Glucosamine Product Guide
Research into the leading commercial products available today.

Nutraceuticals as Therapeutic Agents in Osteoarthritis
This study collected 13 studies and reviewed them to evaluate the effect of glucosamine on arthritis. Glucosamine was found to be much more effective than a placebo and at least equivalent, if not superior to, anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids. Glucosamine does not the the side effects that drugs have on the body, such as the digestive distress, kidney problems and heart conditions. Different products vary in how much glucosamine they contain but the average amount recommended is 1500 mg glucosamine a day. The expected cost should be no more thatn $35 a month.

Glucosamine HCL and Sulfate for the Management of Arthritis
This clinical abstract, published in 1980, suggests that glucosamine should be considered the basic therapy of choice for primary (develops with age) or secondary (injury caused) arthritis.

Pharmacokinetics of Glucosamine in Man
Glucosamine was found to be effectively able to diffuse into the body via oral, such as liquid form, IV (needles into veins), intramuscular (shots into the muscle). All forms allowed the glucosamine to be dispersed and absorbed into the body effectively and thus all three methods are effective routes of administration of glucosamine.

Glucosamine HCL and Sulfate Use and Delay of Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis
Glucosamine was again tested for a period of three years against placebo in a placebo controlled double-blind study, and the results were astoundingly in favor of Glucosamine.

Glucosamine HCL and Sulfate Significantly Reduced Cartilage Destruction
Glucosamine was shown to be a structure (cartilage) regrowing drug. In rabbits, the lesions that simulated osteoarthritis were much smaller in the glucosamine group and much larger in the group that received nothing (the control group).

Clinical Evaluation of Intra-Articular Glucosamine in Gonarthrosis (Knee Arthritis)
A double blind clinical study that evaluated the effects of injected glucosamine verses placebo. Glucosamine reduced pain to a significantly greater degree than did placebo. The resulting joint flexibility was much higher with glucosamine therapy. Note: Glucosamine does *NOT* need to be injected to be effective. The liquid form will provide quick and effective absorption without daily needle sticks and the possibility of infections.

Conservative Management of Spinal Osteoarthritis with Glucosamine Sulfate
Given the detrimental effects of NSAIDs on joints and other organs, their use should be discouraged and their classification as a first choice conservative treatment should be abolished. A more appropriate treatment for arthritis would involve trying to keep the joints mobile through exercise and diet, and using glucosamine HCL and sulfate to aid in the pain reduction and regeneration of destroyed joints.

Glucosamine Compared to Ibuprofen in Osteoarthritis of the Knee
In clinical trials, glucosamine was more effective than placebo in controlling the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It was also found to be more effective than Ibuprofen. In addition, a whopping 35% of Ibuprofen users reported adverse events (generally stomach related) with their treatment, versus only 6% of the Glucosamine group.

Therapeutic Activity of Oral Glucosamine in Osteoarthrosis
Patients report of pain, stiffness, mobility, tenderness and swelling of the joint were measured during the trial. The patients who received the glucosamine experienced twice as much (or more) pain reduction and this occurred twice as fast (or faster).

Glucosamine In Osteoarthritis – A Systematic Review
This was a study that reviewed other studies that have taken place on glucosamine, Ibuprofen (an NSAID) and placebo. In every study, glucosamine was shown to be more effective than placebo and at least as effective (if not more so) than Ibuprofen, which carries risks when it is used for long periods of time. Overall, glucosamine has been shown to be an effective therapeutic nutraceutical for certain kinds and locations of arthritis with almost no side effects.

Efficacy and Safety of Glucosamine Versus Ibuprofen in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
Both glucosamine and ibuprofen significantly reduced the symptoms of osteoarthritis, with glucosamine being more effective. After 2 weeks of drug discontinuation there was a remnant therapeutic effect in both groups, with the trend to be more pronounced in the glucosamine group. Glucosamine was significantly better tolerated than ibuprofen, as shown by the adverse drug reactions.

Antireactive Properties of Glucosamine
The therapeutic effects of glucosamine with regard to the anti-inflammatory activities seems comparable or superior to that of the known non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin. Compared to the NSAIDS, glucosamine side effects were virtually absent. Glucosamine also lacks the eroditive effects of long term NSAIDS use.

For more Clinical Studies, continue on to the Glucosamine Research Page 2

Be sure to visit the Glucosamine Product Guide for a review of commercially available glucosamine products.