July 21, 2010 – Glucosamine is ineffective in relieving pain associated with back pain caused by degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar vertebrae, according to clinical trial1 Norwegian, conducted with 250 patients.
Norwegian researchers report that subjects treated with glucosamine sulfate (1,500 mg per day) for 6 months had no better relief than those who took a placebo. In short, all the patients were relatively relieved; those taking the placebo as well as those taking the glucosamine.
Why does the treatment seem ineffective in this case, while other results have shown that it could be for osteoarthritis of the knee? Researchers hypothesize that glucosamine may not be effective for all joints.
They also point out that, for the time being, no treatment (pharmacological, surgical or other) has been shown to be more effective than a placebo in relieving the chronic pain associated with degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar vertebrae.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Wilkens P, Scheel IB, et al. Effect of glucosamine on pain-related disability in patients with chronic low back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010 Jul 7; 304 (1): 45-52.
