Taking Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis Pain Relief
Glucosamine supplements are being recommended to people with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. And since there are millions of people all over the world afflicted with this ailment, you can probably imagine the size of the market for this supplement. But aside from that, many people swear it works, that it provides them relief from pain. More importantly, clinical studies are providing hard evidence of this supplement's effectiveness in treating osteoarthritis symptoms.
Glucosamine supplements are derived from an amino acid that occurs in the vertebrate tissues of marine animals. It is a component of proteoglycan, which is a vital structural part of cartilage. How is it helpful for osteoarthritis patients? Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage between the joints are worn down over time. Once the cartilage becomes thin enough, the bones start rubbing together and this causes the pain and inflammation that characterizes the disease. Supplements are helpful because they help strengthen cartilage, slow down the rate of cartilage deterioration, and as some studies have shown, even rebuild cartilage.
For instance, a landmark trial conducted by thirteen universities in the United States under the supervision of the National Institutes of Health concluded that this amino acid was effective in treating moderate to severe knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, especially if taken in conjunction with chondroitin. A study conducted by thirteen hospitals in Europe provided similar results. Discomfort levels were significantly reduced while patients' mobility improved. A number of scientific experts are calling for more clinical trials to further assess the supplements' benefits, but even they admit that the findings of trials conducted so far have been encouraging.
This is welcome news indeed for osteoarthritis patients who are concerned about the side effects of pharmaceutical formulations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. This is not to say that you should abandon conventional treatments and switch to supplements. But it wouldn't hurt to consider the healing power of nutraceuticals like these supplements, especially since studies have validated the reason for doing so.
More and more physicians are recommending that people with osteoarthritis take glucosamine supplements in addition to prescription medicine to treat the symptoms of the disease. If you have osteoarthritis and your physician has not recommended it yet, talk it over with him or her. Your physician will be able to fill you in on the pros and cons and advise you on how it may help you manage your disease.
