Herbal supplement guide - glucosamine and chondroitin

April 17, 2:09 PMChicago Health Care ExaminerChristiana Roach

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Herbal supplements are becoming a popular treatment choice in this country and, while they can be quite effective, information regarding proper dosage, side effects, and actual results are often lacking.  This next series of postings will provide information on the more commonly used herbal supplements, beginning with glucosamine and chondroitin.

Background:  Both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are naturally found substances in and around cartilage tissue.  Glucosamine is produced by cartilage and connective tissues while chondroitin helps cartilage retain fluid.  The two compounds are used together in supplement preparations.

Use:  Treatment of osteo-arthritis.

Efficacy:  In 2002, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded GAIT, a study to assess the efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin in reducing knee pain due to osteo-arthritis.  The study was double-blinded (no-one knew who was receiving the supplement), lasted six months and concluded that, for patients with moderate-to-severe pain, glucosamine and chondroitin provided statistically significant pain relief as compared to placebo.  In fact, pain relief was similar to the group receiving celecoxib (brand name Celebrex), a COX-2 inhibitor available only by prescription.  Approximately 70% of each group experienced a 20% or greater reduction in pain.

Side-Effects:  The supplement is well-tolerated with mild stomach upset being the most common adverse effect.  However, because the supplement is made from shellfish covering, people allergic to shellfish should discuss taking the supplement with their physician first.

Dosing:   1500mg of glucosamine and 1200mg of chondroitin daily.  Most preparations now contain this dosage in each capsule.

If you're interested in purchasing this or other herbal supplements, most pharmacies now carry a fairly wide selection and there are specialized pharmacies in the Chicago area which can be of invaluable help in explaining the products as well as obtaining rare preparations.  You can go to my previous article for more information regarding herbal preparations and local, specialized pharmacies: www.examiner.com/x-7503-Chicago-Health-Care-Examiner~y2009m4d16-Herbal-supplements---information-you-need-to-know

Up next for review: Ginkgo Biloba