Research Despite a huge amount of anecdotal evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements have a beneficial effect on the pain caused by osteoarthritis in hips and knees, results from a new study from the University of Bern, Switzerland, indicate that they’re not effective.
Although the supplements won’t cause you any harm, say the researchers, any beneficial effect you do see as a result of taking them is more likely to be a placebo effect – your belief that the supplements work is what makes you feel better.
Both glucosamine and chondroitin are subscribed by GPs, but many more individuals buy the supplements over the counter in health shops or chemists.
Having reviewed 10 published trials on the efficacy of both supplements, involving nearly 4,000 patients, the Swiss researchers found no statistically significant effect on pain when taking either of the supplements, or when taking both glucosamine and chondroitin. They also found no evidence of any beneficial effect on the spaces between the joints. (The inflammation caused by arthritis narrows the joint spaces and this adds to the pain felt by the sufferer.)
This is bad news for anyone who gets either of the supplements from their GP as the study authors suggest that health providers should be discouraged from prescribing them. However, if you feel the supplements help you and make you feel more active, there’s no need to stop taking them. Exercise helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis, so if the supplements help get you up and about, they’re worth taking.
First published September 23, 2010