Ease your knees: if you're buying glucosamine to treat your arthritis you want to be sure the brand you buy contains an effective dose.(TEST: Glucosamine)

Publication: Choice (Chippendale, Australia)

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Australian Consumers' Association

Arthritis affects around three million Australians--around 15% of the population--and is the leading cause of pain and disability among older people. Osteoarthritis, its most common form, is a degenerative joint condition that affects weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and ankles as well as the hands and spine.

While it can't yet be cured, it can be treated. Currently most treatment programs include lifestyle changes like weight loss and physiotherapy, along with the common use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to manage the pain. The bad news is that the safety of these NSAIDS is increasingly under a cloud.

VIOXX was recently withdrawn from the market by its manufacturer after a link was found between its use and increased risk of heart attack or stroke. CELEBREX, while not withdrawn, was also implicated in posing an increased risk of heart problems. Even milder forms of NSAID like ibuprofen, which are sold in supermarkets and pharmacies under brand names such as NUROFEN and ADVIL, can cause damage to the small intestine if used for more than three months. Ibuprofen has also recently been linked to increased risk of heart attack.

Naturally arthritis suffers are worried and, unsurprisingly, they're looking for alternatives.

THE EVIDENCE FOR GLUCOSAMINE

Glucosamine is a component of much larger molecules found in the body called glycosaminoglycans. These larger molecules are involved in the formation and repair of cartilage, and are major constituents of bones, ligaments, tendons and the synovial fluid that lubricates our joints.

The evidence that glucosamine is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis is very much stronger than for other 'alternative' treatments (see Alternative alternatives, below). It's been used for more than 20 years and during this time 16 randomised controlled trials have shown that it's both effective and safe in the short term. It not only relieves the symptoms of osteoarthritis--particularly in the knee--but may help reverse the disease's progress.

It also compares well with...

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