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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Is Glucosamine Good for Arthritis?

Is Glucosamine Good for Arthritis?
Is Glucosamine Good for Arthritis?

Overview

Arthritis is a painful condition that results when the cartilage in your joints deteriorates from disease or age. Arthritis causes pain, stiffness and tenderness, and the flexibility of your joints decreases. It most commonly affects your hips, hands, lower back, knees and neck. Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are treatments that help alleviate the pain, which gets worse over time. A widely touted supplement is glucosamine, taken alone or in combination with chondroitin. Always consult your physician before using any dietary supplement to treat a serious health condition.

Function

Your body naturally produces a small amount of glucosamine, which it uses to keep joints lubricated and increase the amount of water absorbed by the cartilages. Glucosamine supplements may function in much the same manner, helping to improve the motility of your joints, slow the progression of your arthritis and lessen the pain caused by this condition.

Benefits

The National Institutes of Health conducted a Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, or GAIT, which found that glucosamine was most effective when combined with chondroitin. However, only those with moderate to severe arthritis pain experienced significant pain reduction, while those who only suffered from mild pain did not. In some cases, the supplements worked better than NSAID pain relievers like ibuprofen.

Significance

Glucosamine is a safe alternative to NSAID pain relievers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. If you can't take these pain relievers because of liver disease or other health problems, you may find relief from arthritis with glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. Studies on the effectiveness of these supplements have not been conclusive, but there is some evidence that they may slow down the progression of your arthritis.

Considerations

It may take longer to feel the beneficial effects of glucosamine compared with pain relievers, as the effects are not immediate. There are some possible side effects when you take glucosamine, including nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, constipation and heartburn. Glucosamine sulfate seems to be more effective than glucosamine hydrochloride.

Warnings

If you are allergic to shellfish, you shouldn't take these supplements because they are made with shells. Glucosamine may raise your cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose and blood pressure. If you are taking warfarin or other blood thinners, do not take glucosamine because the interaction may cause bleeding problems.


source : livestrong.com

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