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Glucosamine: Dramatic New Help for Arthritis Sufferers Arthritis is a widespread and baffling ailment that still has medical science searching for causes and effective treatments. Forms of the disease ranging from rare to common and from trivial to serious afflict millions of Americans. Many products are available to relieve the symptoms, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Unfortunately, several studies indicate that long-term use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and Indocin actually inhibits cartilage repair and accelerates its destruction. In fact, arthritis treatment can be considered a classic example of how mainstream medical treatment simply suppresses symptoms and, by virtually ignoring the underlying causes, actually promotes the disease process itself. The long-held view of the medical community has been that cartilage deterioration can be considered permanent, since cartilage was believed incapable of regeneration sufficient to effect substantial improvement. Little has been found to control or reverse the condition - until recently. Chondroprotective Agents More than a decade of European research has led to the isolation of a new class of nutrients found beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. According to the January 1993 issue of The Townsend Letter for Doctors, chondroprotective agents, as defined by leading researchers Ghosh and Smith, must include four actions: 1. support or enhancement of macromolecular synthesis by chondrocytes; 2. support or enhancement of synthesis of hyaluronan by synoviocytes in synovial fluid; 3. inhibition of degradative enzymes or inflammatory mediators; 4. removal or prevention of fibrin formation, thrombi and plaque in synovium and/or subchondral blood vessels. Substances that can perform all four of these functions are found in normal cartilage and chondrocyte metabolism. One such isolated and clinically tested chondroprotective agent is known as glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine Sulfate Glucosamine sulfate, found in high concentrations in healthy joints, is critical to the integrity of joint tissues. Its main function is to stimulate cartilage synthesis, which in turn promotes joint repair. It has also been shown to exert a protective effect against joint destruction. When taken orally, this amino acid sugar is a small and highly absorbable molecule. Neither an analgesic nor an anti-inflammatory, it acts by initiating repair of damaged joint tissue. Double-blind studies have shown glucosamine relieves pain and inflammation and has passed tests required for safety and bioavailability. During the early 1980s, a total of 1,500 people in nine European studies were given 500 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate three times per day. These test subjects reported a significant reduction in joint pain, joint tenderness and joint swelling. The studies were so convincing that glucosamine sulfate has become the preferred treatment for osteoarthritis in several European countries. In a separate study, Dr. Antonio Lopez Vat from St. John Hospital in Oporto, Portugal divided 48 patients, all with arthritis in only one knee, into two groups, one group receiving 1.5 grams of glucosamine, the other receiving 1.2 grams of ibuprofen (Motrin) daily for eight weeks. The Motrin users had a rapid daily increase in pain over the first two weeks, but at the end of eight weeks their arthritis pain was on the rise again. The glucosamine users had less dramatic pain relief in the first two weeks, but at eight weeks their pain was significantly improved over the Motrin group. In yet another study, Italian Drs. I. Setnikar, M. Pacini and L. Revel compared glucosamine to Indocin in three groups of rats with induced inflammation similar to human rheumatic inflammation. Glucosamine did alter the inflammatory response in the three groups, but Indocin was much more potent, requiring a dose 50 to 300 times lower. The toxicity of Indocin, however, is 1-4,000 times greater than glucosamine, which has no measured toxicity. Taking this into account, the researchers found that treatment of inflammatory disorders with glucosamine is 10 to 30 times more effective than treatment with Indocin. Although study after study in Europe has yielded favorable results, glucosamine sulfate has not been available in the United States until recently. A.U.S. study cited in the July 1993 Townsend Letter showed a number of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who received 500 milligrams of glucosamine per day and 10 who received a placebo. At the conclusion of the 6-8 weeks, the patients taking glucosamine sulfate rated their treatments as excellent, whereas the placebo patients rated their results fair or poor. Other promising chondroprotective agents currently include manganese, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Joint health nutrients include niacin, magnesium, pantothenic acid, manganese, boron, zinc and the antioxidants: selenium, vitamins A, E, and especially C. Should Patients Try Glucosamine Sulfate? In clinical trials throughout Europe over the past ten years, glucosamine sulfate has consistently produced positive effects in arthritis suffers. Although results are currently available for only a few U.S. studies, the early returns seem to be just as encouraging here as abroad. In light of its reportedly dramatic benefits and apparent lack of undesirable side effects, glucosamine sulfate seems to offer substantial hope for suffers of all types of arthritis. One of the most promising arthritis therapies ever, glucosamine sulfate is now available in the United States from Kombucha Power Products. As with all our nutritional supplements, Kombucha Power produces glucosamine with on the finest ingredients and advance processing technology, creating a final product, Glucosamine. Dosage Ranges The standard dosage for glucosamine sulfate is 500 Milligrams three times per day. Obese individuals may need higher dosages based on body weight (20 milligrams per kilogram body weight daily. Safety Issues Glucosamine sulfate has an excellent safety record in animal and human studies. Based on these studies, many experts recommend that glucosamine sulfate "be considered as the product of choice for prolonged oral treatment of rheumatic disorders. Glucosamine sulfate is extremely well tolerated, and no allergic reactions have been reported. Interactions Individuals taking diuretics may need to take higher dosages (20 milligrams per kilogram body weight daily)
John M. Novar.
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