New research published in the BMJ suggests that glucosamine and chondroitin, two supplements regularly prescribed to help patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis manage joint pain, produce "no clinically relevant effect".
The number of prescriptions issued for glucosamine and chondroitin has increased rapidly over the last ten years, with the treatments also available over the counter.
However, studies on the efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin have produced mixed results, prompting Professor Peter Juni and a team of researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland to launch their own investigation. After looking at ten previously-published trials, Professor Juni and the team concluded that glucosamine and chondroitin, whether taken independently or together, had no bearing on joint pain or on joint space narrowing.
"Compared with placebo, glucosamine, chondroitin and their combination do not reduce joint pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space," the authors wrote.
Posted: 4 October 2010