|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICAL GLUCOSAMINE EFFECTIVE IN OSTEOARTHRITIS
|
|
Topical application of glucosamine
and chondroitin sulfate is effective in relieving the pain from osteoarthritis of the knee and improvement is evident within weeks, an Australian study has found.
Reporting the results at a complementary medicine research symposium in Brisbane, Dr Marc Cohen, senior lecturer in epidemiology and preventive medicine at Monash University and researcher in that university's Centre for Complementary Medicine, said oral glucosamine has previously been reported to reduce the pain from osteoarthritis and reduce joint space narrowing.
"While oral glucosamine is readily absorbed, it is subject to first pass metabolism in the liver and uptake into non-joint tissues.
"Chondroitin sulfate is also known to be effective but the oral route is severely hampered by poor gastrointestinal bioavailability."
This study assessed the ability of a topical preparation of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate to reduce pain related to osteoarthritis of the knee, he said.
Sixty-three people were randomized to receive either a topical glucosamine and chondroitin preparation or placebo to be used "as required" over an eight- week period.
The study found a greater mean reduction in pain for the glucosamine group compared to the placebo group.
The reduction in pain was evident from the daily diary data immediately and increased over the study period, with the glucosamine group experiencing double the rate of improvement compared to the placebo group.
Dr Cohen said glucosamine is "probably the only disease-modifying agent for osteoarthritis that is proven with hard evidence, but it is not subsidized by the public purse, whereas nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are - at a huge expense.
"There are quite serious safety concerns associated with NSAIDS; they don't affect the disease progression, and may actually advance the disease.
"So glucosamine is a lot safer, and comparable on a cost basis.
"The novel thing about this study is that it works in a topical as well as oral formulation."
Glucosamine is widely available in pharmacies and health food shops, he said.
Patients should first check with their doctor before changing any medication.
|
|
|
|
