Loading ...Nutrients & HealthGlucosamine - Your Best Bet for Osteoarthritis
Every seven years I take a test prepared by the American Board of Family Medicine to maintain my medical board certification. The last time I took the test I clearly remember a multiple-choice question regarding osteoarthritis. The choice of answers disturbed me.
The question basically asked the ideal long-term treatment for osteoarthritis. The choices were:
- Aspirin.
- NSAIDs such as naproxen or ibuprofen (Motrin).
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) up to 4 grams a day.
- Combination of aspirin and other NSAIDs.
What disturbed me was that there was no option for glucosamine and chondroitin or other natural methods. (In fact, throughout the whole test, I hardly remember any questions regarding the use of nutrition or nutritional supplements in the treatment of common medical conditions.) Later I found out their “correct” answer was c) Acetaminophen. But is there an alternative?
Researchers from Madrid, Spain, compared the benefit of glucosamine sulfate versus acetaminophen (Tylenol) on the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis during a six-month treatment course. Patients were randomly assigned to receive1500 mg of oral glucosamine sulfate once daily, 3 g acetaminophen a day or a placebo.
The findings of this study indicate that, in the long run, glucosamine sulfate is more effective than a placebo and as or more effective than acetaminophen in treating knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
Acetaminophen reduces joint pain quicker than glucosamine, but it can cause harm to the liver, even at doses of 1 gram a day. I do not think it is a good drug to be taken long term for a chronic condition such as osteoarthritis.
I wonder how many years it will take for the American Board of Family Medicine to include natural supplements as options in their questions and answers.
[Ed. Note: Ray Sahelian, M.D., is a practicing physician and best-selling author. He is a leading authority on natural supplements and nutrition. For the latest research on organic ways to improve your health and well-being, click here.]
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