
According to a study published last month in The Lancet, the dietary supplement glucosamine sulfate may help stop the progression of osteoarthritis. Researchers at the University of Liege in Belgium studied 212 patients with osteoarthritis, an inflammatory disease that leads to deterioration of joints, cartilage and bone tissue. Half of the subjects received glucosamine daily for three years, while the others were given a placebo pill. The team found that glucosamine improved symptoms by about 25% compared to placebo. More notably, X-rays demonstrated that cartilage remained stable in patients taking glucosamine, while it deteriorated in those taking the placebo.
This study supports the notion that taking a supplement containing glucosamine can benefit osteoarthritis patients without causing serious side effects. This study is the first to prove this theory. The supplement is thought to stimulate glucosaminoglycans (GSG), which allow joints and cartilage to repair the deterioration caused by osteoarthritis. It has also been shown to cause fewer of the side effects associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
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