Glucosamine/Chondroitin Doesn’t Stop Cartilage Loss

Drat, I was wrong on this one

Ever since I took up running in 2003, I’ve been popping a dose of glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate nearly every day with the hope that it would help mitigate cartilage loss in my knees from the pounding inherent in the sport. And, knock-on wood, I haven’t suffered anything other than the approximately $60-70 a year I’ve spent on the supplement. But today I found out that that I’ve been wasting money all this time.

Two years into an ongoing study of the supplement’s effectiveness, researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine noted that there was “no clinically important reduction in joint space width loss” in patients taking glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate. But before the doctors would declare the supplement worthless, they revealed that their data wasn’t making a lot of sense to them. The doctors couldn’t explain why those patients receiving placebos had a “smaller loss of cartilage than they should have,” according to a Reuters wire report on the study.

Confusion aside, I think this spells the end of another over-hyped supplement (Hey, one whose hype I bought.) I’ll take that placebo effect, though, even if it means shelling out $60 a year for a bottle of the stuff. It’s become a nice little touchstone-type of routine for me: Pop the pill, keep on runnin’. If I learned anything about fitness, it’s the power of the routine. Stick to a routine, and you stay on track.

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READERS COMMENTS

The supplement has stopped my thumb joint pain in both hands and I only take 2 per day now. Well worthit to me!!
Posted: Jan 04, 2009 Mike Martina

All I know is when I take the glucosamine supplement my (55 year old) knees don't ache the way they do when I forget to take it regularly. I guess I'll pay the money for this relief so I can continue to hike, kayak, ski (cc & downhill), ride bike (motor and mountain), and whatever else comes my way! Remember...we don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing! Please pass the glucosamine and ibuprofen!

And no...I don't always take them both at the same time so I don't believe it's the ibuprofen off-setting or masking the effect of the glucosamine. Besides, sometimes I feel so good I even forget to take the ibuprofen! Get outside and have a great time!!! (LH)
Posted: Oct 02, 2008 Larry H from South Dakota

OK, so in the interest of full disclosure I work with a company that sells a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement. However, I think you and your readers ought to know that this study is not conclusive in any way. If you look at the earlier GAIT study, which studied "pain" as opposed to the space between cartilage, 1500mg of Glucosamine and 1200mg of Chondroitin daily actually helped decrease pain among moderate to severe osteoarthritis sufferers even better than celecoxib (Celebrex). There have been hundreds of studies and in fact, there are differing opinions among the world's leading medical and nutritional authorities. The fact is that we get thousands of letters from people who thank us for our product and its impact on their active lifestyle. So, if it's working for you, I would encourage you to not let this new research scare you off. I equate this to the debate that's been had about eggs, milk and other foods/supplements that are "good for you" one day and "bad" the next, depending on which study and which "expert" you listen to.
Posted: Oct 01, 2008 Ryan