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Glucosamine is extracted from the shells of crabs and oysters, and is considered a natural substance in the treatment of arthritis and joint pains. Glucosamine is promoted, it was a precursor to the proteoglycans. Proteoglycans are thought to help cartilage remaining water and instrumental in promoting the formation of an elastic layer, which can improve the functional properties of cartilage.

Chondroitin is a product of shark cartilage and cow, Which is promoted for the prevention of arthritis and for the treatment of pain in the joints. Chondroitin is often combined with glucosamine, which is sold in health food stores combined. Chondroitin stimulates the production of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid to destroy and inhibit the proteolytic enzymes of cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin are often administered in combination with osteoarthritis.

Most previous studies of glucosamine and chondroitin have been performed byProducers and has not been well controlled (1). A meta-analysis, in 2000, when studies of glucosamine and chondroitin studies funded by manufacturers that have favorable results as well as for the extra combo run as independent studies and studies indicate that the manufacturers have been adequately controlled. In general, there was a moderate effect for both, and the authors concluded that a degree was probably more effective (1).

Only one of the studiesrevised in 2000, reported that patients do not know if they were finally given a supplement or a placebo. In this study, 252 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were four weeks of glucosamine or placebo in random data. Glucosamine has been a decrease in pain ratings 10,6-7,5 vs 10,6-8,4 in the placebo group; Fifty-two percent of glucosamine patients had a clinically significant change as a measure of three-Drop Point on an index of arthritis severity by 37% compared to placebo. These differences were statistically significant.

Recently, several placebo-controlled studies have been conducted.
In a study of 212 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were assigned to placebo or glucosamine three years of treatment. Glucosamine patients on placebo had a greater reduction of space in the knee, as compared with the measured X-ray (v -. 31 millimeters — . 06 mm).> Glucosamine patients had significant improvement in pain scores compared with placebo. Glucosamine showed no increase in adverse events compared with placebo (2).

In another study, 98 men were charged with osteoarthritis of the knee, glucosamine or placebo for two months of treatment. There was no difference in ratings between the pain of the patients with glucosamine (3.3) and placebo (3.5) (3). Glucosamine treatment was associated with side effects,including feces, nausea, heartburn and headaches.

Another study randomized 202 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee three years of treatment with glucosamine or placebo. Placebo-treated patients had a greater degree of common areas, such as X-rays (as glucosamine + .04 -. 19 millimeters mm V). There were statistically significantly higher reduction in measures of pain, glucosamine their votes (-2 V -1.3), and measures of stiffness andFunction. A randomized, Placebo-controlled study demonstrated the efficacy of glucosamine-chondroitin combination than with placebo (4).

In 2006, a study of large, well-controlled in 1583 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee of glucosamine, chondroitin, glucosamine sulfate has an / chondroitin combined, celecoxib, or placebo for six months of treatment. A positive result of treatment was defined as a variation of 20% of the severity of knee pain. Sixty percent of placebo patients respondedtreatment compared to 67% of glucosamine / chondroitin patients, a difference that was not statistically significant. Celecoxib had a 70% which was significantly better than placebo. A subgroup of patients with moderate to severe pain at baseline is not much better with glucosamine / chondroitin to placebo (79% vs 54% of response) (5.) To sum up, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin show some efficacy for the treatment ofArthritis.

1. McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Gulin JP, Felson DT Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic evaluation of the quality and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2000, 283 (11) :1469-1475

2. Reginster, J.-Y., Deroisy, R., Rovati, LC, Lee RL, Lejeune, E., Bruyere, O., Giacovelli, G., HENROTIN Y, Dacre JE, Gossett C. Long long term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression:A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Lancet. 2001; 357:251-256.

3. Rindone JP, Hiller D, Collacott, E., North Haugen, N. randomized, controlled trial of glucosamine for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Western Journal of Medicine. 2000, 172 (2) :91-94.

4. Lefler, CT, Philippi AF, Leffler SG glucosamine, chondroitin and manganese ascorbate for degenerative disease of the knee or back pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlledpilot study. Military Medicine. 1999, 164:85-91.

5. Clegg DO, Reda DJ, Harris CL, Klein MA, O'Dell JR, Hooper MM, Bradley JD, Bingham CO 3rd, Weisman MH, Jackson CG, Lane NE, Cush JJ, Moreland LW, Schumacher HR Jr., Oddis , CV, Wolfe F, Molitor JA, Yocum DE, Schnitzer TJ, Furst DE, Sawitzke AD, Shi H, Brandt KD, Moskowitz, RW, Williams, HJ glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painfulOsteoarthritis of the knee. New England Journal of Medicine. 23. February 2006, 354 (8) :795-808.