"Glucosamine - just another marketing con ?"

[Vixen]

Interesting article :

SEEN by ageing baby boomers as a miracle elixir for creaking or swollen joints, arthritic pain and general "wear and tear", bottles of glucosamine supplements have been marching off the shelves of the nation's health food stores, supermarkets and pharmacies.

Glucosamine is one of Australia's highest-selling health supplements ? worth more than $90 million a year ? yet remarkably, given its popularity, clinical trials have found that most formulations are ineffective.

People take glucosamine for osteoarthritis, a chronic condition that destroys bone joints and afflicts an estimated 1.3 million people in Australia. The number of people suffering the degenerative condition is expected to more than double in the next 30 years.

Despite clinical trial findings that many of the supplements do not work, manufacturers continue to claim that their product ? usually made from prawn and other crustacean shells ? consistently "alleviates symptoms," has been "scientifically proven to regenerate cartilage and synovial fluid" and "has been shown to slow the progression of joint damage in osteoarthritis".

Drug industry critic Ken Harvey has warned the federal Health Department's complaints resolution panel that glucosamine advertisements by Symbion, Blackmores and Doctors' Selection are inaccurate and misleading and could waste consumers' money.

Dr Harvey, of La Trobe University's school of public health, said some of the advertising claims were extravagant and were not backed by scientific evidence.

"There currently is no good evidence that any Australian preparation works, although there is some evidence overseas that one might," he said. "It really is an indictment of the Australian regulatory system that a product that is so popular and has such a high market share of complementary medicines has not been properly evaluated."

Vicki Kotsirilos, of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association, said clinical studies indicated that glucosamine hydrochloride did not work. Other trials showed that a particular glucosamine sulphate might have some effect, but further research was needed, she said.

Dr Kotsirilos added that Australia's system of dealing with complaints about the advertising of complementary medicines needed beefing up.

Federal parliamentary health secretary Jan McLucas last week agreed, saying the current system lacked enforcement powers.

"It's very clear to me that we have to look at the whole process, including the advertising process," she said.

Consumers seem more than willing to swallow the claims made by manufacturers when it comes to glucosamine.

While thousands of people who suffer joint pain religiously take their tablets and capsules daily, the few independent clinical trials that have taken place question the benefits.

A study by Boston University last year concluded that glucosamine hydrochloride "is not effective" and that independent studies showed the other popular form, glucosamine sulphate, "has no effect", though there were too few trials to confirm this. Another study found that glucosamine sulphate "may be effective" in improving the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee but that more research was needed.

Wendy Morrow, executive director of the Complementary Healthcare Council, said Dr Harvey's evidence was biased and misleading and that the supplement worked for large numbers of people. Guidelines issued by the Therapeutic Goods Administration meant manufacturers had to have evidence to support the claims they made, she said.

Sydney's George Institute for International Health is examining the effect of glucosamine sulphate in a trial of 600 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The trial, which is still recruiting patients, will compare the benefits of glucosamine sulphate, a supplement extracted from cow and shark cartilage called chondroitin, and a combination of the two with a placebo, or fake, drug. The results are expected to be known in three years.

Dr Marlene Fransen, who is leading the study, said osteoarthritis was responsible for more disability in the daily lives of people aged over 50 than any other disease.

The biggest trial of glucosamine hydrochloride, involving 1600 people with arthritic knees, was conducted in 2006 in the United States by the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

The trial compared the results of glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulphate, and a combination of the two, with a placebo.

Dr Harvey said the trial found no significant difference between the groups who took the supplements and the placebo. However, a small subgroup with moderate to severe knee pain did report significant relief when taking the combined glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate.

Dr Harvey also said that Australia's Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee had warned that glucosamine could interact adversely with the blood-thinning medication warfarin. However, many glucosamine products lacked this warning and one manufacturer denied the risk on its website.

[Flash]

yeah i herd about this on TV before. just skim and scanning that article and there are some good arguments.

in the second last paragraph combined glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate seem to have some influence of benefit. i had a knee injury for about 3 weeks and it wasnt just something that went away with RICER. had some spare glucosamine and chondroitin supplements left over from when i bought them for my osteitis pubis, but later was informed that it doesnt work for osteitis, im still not sure but it helped my knee. if you follow the advice on the back it can work. however i believe this stuff is only good for knees.

[jellybean]

I've got no doubt that there are some dodgy glucosamine/chondroitin products out there - the vitamin/supplement industry seems to be littered with manufacturers and products of doubtful value. But I'm with Flash, glucosamine/chondroitin has helped me.

I've used three different brands for knee problems (including OA) - two in the powdered form, one in tablet form. Two of the three products were really beneficial (the taste of one of the powdered brands may have limited it's effectiveness - it tasted so bad I didn't use it as often as I should have!).

I currently use Herron OsteoEze Active (tablet form -more convenient) and wouldn't be without it. (It was recommended to me by both my OS and a naturopath friend and they were on the money). I've noticed that it also seems to help my shoulder pain (I've got different injuries in both shoulders) but have been told by others that it seems to have no benefits for ankle problems.

[tallblack]

Yeah i take glucosamine, chondrotin and fish oil im not sure if it has helped or it hasnt but it is so cheap its worth taking it for a year especially if theres even a remote chance it will help rebuild cartilige. Well thats my opinion anyway.

[AJF]

Yeah i take glucosamine, chondrotin and fish oil im not sure if it has helped or it hasnt but it is so cheap its worth taking it for a year especially if theres even a remote chance it will help rebuild cartilige. Well thats my opinion anyway.

I started taking Glucosamine whilst waiting for my hip surgery (FAI & Labral Repar). I had never taken it before and after a few months I did notice less pain in the hip when sitting down and walking. Therefore IMO I believe it does help.

AJF.

[focus_911]

Hi,
To tell you the truth I have never taken this supplement but I know of people who swear by it. I will also that I spend a lot of money each month on my horses as I also give them the supplement (in much higher doses of course). A lot of athletes takes this product so I would like to think it works.
I would say for you to try it and see if you find that it helps you.

[Flash]

Just bought a new stash of and Blackmores joint forumula with glucosamine and chondroition 120 tablets (expensive). and natures own fish oil 100 tablets with 1000mg. does anyone notice any difference with brands?

for my knee, hip and other areas i only use Blackmores joint forumula with glucosamine and chondroition as it helps rebuild cartlidge and i feel it works really well. The other one which i bought (natures own glucosamine and chondroition) but didnt open it and took it back i felt was only for arthritis.

I bought natures own fish oil 100 tablets with 1000mg, which was on special for $10 but i tend to get con-in with most of the writing on other fish oil tablets. Would thier be a difference between say $10 fish oil tablets and $17 fish oil tablets with the same quantity inside?

[focus_911]

Just bought a new stash of and Blackmores joint forumula with glucosamine and chondroition 120 tablets (expensive). and natures own fish oil 100 tablets with 1000mg. does anyone notice any difference with brands?

for my knee, hip and other areas i only use Blackmores joint forumula with glucosamine and chondroition as it helps rebuild cartlidge and i feel it works really well. The other one which i bought (natures own glucosamine and chondroition) but didnt open it and took it back i felt was only for arthritis.

I bought natures own fish oil 100 tablets with 1000mg, which was on special for $10 but i tend to get con-in with most of the writing on other fish oil tablets. Would thier be a difference between say $10 fish oil tablets and $17 fish oil tablets with the same quantity inside?

Just check the back. We never use brand name pharmacy medication for our patients. It's all the same "no-name" vs Advil, Tylenol etc. What you are really paying for is the brand name. A huge waste of money is spent into the healthcare system with medication that serves the same purpose(just manufacturers making the money).

Compare the back and see what the dosage of each particular medication you are looking at. Thats where the difference will lie between the no name and the brand name meds. Some will go for cheaper because there is less of it.

Cheers.

[tallblack]

Hi Flash what Foucs_911 said is exactly correct you are just paying for the brand name thats why Blackmores is so expensive!! Im in Australia and have talked to the people in the shops and they dont actually recommend Blackmores check out these ones next time you are buying some-Fusion Glucosamine Joint Repair includes 1000mg Glucosamine, 400mg Chrondrotin, 50mg ascorbic acid, Manganese amino acid 45mg and Ginger Root 1000mg! Another one is Naro High Potency Glucosamine 1500mg, Chrondrotin 150mg, zinc 2mg Manganese 500mcg and Copper 166mcg Fusion brand has updated this product as i saw it in the shop the other day and it had new ingrediants added to it. I still have some left so did need more yet. Hope this helps.

[Flash]

Yeah that sounds good from what you have stated and its cheaper. But does fusion help rebuild joint cartlidge? If so i think im up for a change next time