Two Studies Find Glucosamine and Chondroitin Effective for Osteoarthritis.

Two clinical trials presented at the November 2005 annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) found glucosamine and chondroitin to be effective, well-tolerated treatments for osteoarthritic pain. The first study, known as the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), was a multi-centered study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), authorized by Congress in 2000. The second, which had similar results, was the European-sponsored Glucosamine Unum In Die Efficacy (GUIDE) trial.

In the NIH study, researchers from more than a dozen U.S. health care facilities compared a combination of 500 mg per day of glucosamine hydrochloride and 400 mg per day of sodium chondroitin sulfate with 200 mg per day of celecoxib (a drug used to relieve arthritis symptoms) or placebo. 1,583 Patients with a mean age of 58.6 years, body mass index of 31.7 kg/m2, and 10-year history of osteoarthritic knee pain participated in the study. 1,258 subjects completed the 24-week intervention phase of the study. All subjects were allowed up to 4,000 mg per day of acetaminophen, if needed, except within 24 hours of patient evaluations. Researchers found glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate most effective in relieving severe knee pain, with nearly 80% the group reporting significant benefit. All treatments were deemed well tolerated.

Similar results were reported in the GUIDE trial. Researchers compared the effect of 1,500 mg per day of glucosamine sulfate with 3,000 mg per day of acetaminophen or placebo in 318 osteoarthritis patients, 88% were women, over 24 weeks. Various indices of osteoarthritis pain and mobility were measured. 400 mg per day of Ibuprofen was permitted if needed.

Glucosamine sulfate was found to be effective in significantly reducing scores on various osteoarthritis symptom scales. No differences were found in the safety of treatments. The researchers concluded 1,500 mg per day of glucosamine sulfate might be the preferred symptomatic medication in knee osteoarthritis.

Bio-Design Super-Flex combines glucosamine and chondroitin with other, synergistic nutrients in a comprehensive formula.