Glucosamine is considered to be effective in helping the body to naturally rebuild and repair connective tissue to lessen the effects of arthritis on the body.
How Glucosamine Works
Glucosamine is naturally found in the joints in high concentrations. It is thought to stimulate cartilage formation. Glucosamine acts like a building block to build and maintain cartilage, tendons and other connective tissues in the body. It inhibits enzymes that can destroy cartilage.
When there is not enough glucosamine in our body the cartilage breaks down and we develop or exacerbate existing arthritis and osteoarthritis. By preventing cartilage destruction, swelling, joint pain and loss of range of motion or flexibility glucosamine can naturally help prevent and lessen the effects of arthritis.
Effects of Glucosamine for Arthritis
Glucosamine is not an immediate pain relief treatment, nor can it cure existing arthritis. If you are suffering with painful arthritis you will need to continue the use of NSAIDS prescribed by your doctor while glucosamine works to rebuild your cartilage which should reduce your pain.
Glucosamine works on your joints from inside the joint itself. Once you have experienced relief the glucosamine can help protect your joints from future damage.
Studies of Glucosamine for Arthritis
There have been centuries of research to determine the effects of glucosamine for arthritis treatment. There have been short term and long term studies with varying results.
Glucosamine versus a Placebo in a double blind study including 252 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a 4 week period showed it to be more effective in relieving symptoms of arthritis. A four week double blind trial that included 200 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee showed that after 2 weeks of treatment glucosamine 500mg was just as effective for pain relief as taking ibuprofen 400mg three times daily. In a study at Charles University in the Czech Republic that lasted 3 years, it was found that glucosamine stopped the narrowing of the joint space in the knees of people who suffered with knee arthritis.
In the largest study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) which was conducted over a 5 year period at 16 locations across the United States the results were mixed. Although a group of people with moderate to severe arthritis pain was noted to experience ‘strong relief’ with glucosamine; the findings were that the effects of those given the placebo were similar to those given glucosamine.
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