Glucosamine works . Agree or Disagree?

I’ve been taking Glucosamine for joint pain and it has been is really helpful for my right knee. It is a proven supplement for joint pain. Not only osteoarthritis, Glucosamine also lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Source - www.myhealthyclick.com/glucosamine-supplements-may-reduce-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease/

I've been doing a bit of research. It seems that not all supplements contain the amount stated, in fact the majority don't. There has been more promising results for knees than for hips. And many vets think they are worth trying on cats ? and dogs ?.

It was the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin in the optimal doses that the Mayo clinic doctor said worked. Neither on their own was much use.

I was reading up on this and medical trials have both proved it works and that it doesn't. There are 2 types and it seems one helps and the other doesn't

My SIL was a biochemist at the MRC Bone Research Lab in Cambridge for a number of years studying arthritis and osteoporosis. One of their research projects focused on the effects of Glucosamine -0 results - no evidence of any measurable benefits.

I should hope so! Red Rum's been dead for years.

I took it for knees and it was brilliant, it was powders given to racehorses so I can now run faster than red rum!

Someone on GN recommended a product called Joint Assure, sold by Boots that contains glucosamine and chondroitin was well as vitamin C etc. I've found it very helpful for my knees.

Definitely works but get good brand like solgar, it has to be a good brand and a good strength

I suspect Nellie is right in saying so much of it is down to individual responses, as it is to more orthodox medicines. I wear one of those magnet type bangles and do feel it helps. Friends use the collars on their old dogs/horses and swear by it. Same with turmeric and G and C. (not G and T, even though it's Friday)

I suppose green lipped mussels could be the same then

Top comes the extract from chillies?

Nannyandgrampy my mum who had lots of arthritis took green lipped mussel and swore it helped a lot I now have her arthritisy joints the price has put me off trying it Mind you I ve just wasted £7 on Volterol12 which has had no effect at all so I ought to give it a go

Jalima I had no idea about the shellfish link it didn't seem to affect me while I was taking it thank goodness.

I find that glucosamine makes me worse.
It may be because I have a slight allergy to shellfish (not dangerously so but eating prawns can bring me out in itchy lumps)

Anyone with a shellfish allergy should avoid glucosamine.

I thought this from Arthritis Reseach UK was worth a look.

I began taking tablets on the advice of my family when I started long distance jogging late-ish in life. To date, I've had no joint issues but I don't know if the tablets have made a difference.

I've recently resumed training for a couple of half marathons and have omitted the tablets. So far, I've noticed no difference.

When I asked my GP, he said the tablets would do me no harm but would go no further than that.

It obviously works for some people and not for others.

I did however recommend it for a friend's border collie who was having trouble with her back legs. After just a few weeks she was squeezing under fences and climbing over styles on her walks. Co-incidence? Maybe but then again maybe not.....and certainly not the placebo effect!

Different "medications" work differently on different people depending on their own body chemistry and their genes.

This idea is becoming increasingly acccepted by the medical profession and is being tested to try and tailor medications to suit an individuals particular DNA.

Interesting NanaandGrampy

One thing that I have tried worked , and that's green lipped mussel extract. We bought ours from Boots at the time. Apparently Maori people have a very low incidence of joint issues and scientists deduced it was down to a diet which contained green lipped mussels.

I first heard about it in the 90's , and used it at first for an arthritic dog! Seeing the improvement in the dog ( a breed that had joint issues) , my husband decided if it was good enough for the dog he would try it ( it is tested for human consumption) .

He too, felt a great improvement in his joints and has continued to this day . It's not cheap but certainly, we actually saw how much better the dog was and my husband has very little joint pain at all.

My sister swore by them but has more joint pain since taking them, hardly a walking advert. She suggested I tried them but I told her I wasn't ingesting ground sea shells on her say so.

On a word of caution, my friend asked her GP about taking it and was told that it was not recommended unless her blood sugar was normal as it raised blood sugar levels. With so many older people being Type 2 diabetics it is probably better to be wary.

I found them of no use at all, I did ask my pharmascist wether they are of any benefit for osteo arthritis and he said they werent and were a waste of money. As others have said the 'placebo' effect.

I can't remember the dosages. I heard about it from a senior medic at the Mayo clinic who was talking about osteoarthritis. I tried them after that and, certainly, my OA was kept at bay. Eventually I stopped. The latest bottle of pills ran out and I just didn't get any more. No excuses -I forgot.
OA back with a vengeance!!

My rheumatologist is someone whose research evidence I listen to. She suggested I stop taking G and C because there was no research to support it being useful for me and it was yet another thing for my kidneys to be working on.