The question seems so simple: "Does glucosamine work?" But the answer, gleaned from more than a dozen studies and years of research into the naturally manufactured sugar that is said to relieve joint pain, is "Nobody really knows."
Now comes another study, this one conducted by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine, that attempted to learn why so many earlier studies were inconclusive. As the Washington Post reports, the results of the BU study were, you guessed it, inconclusive.
The good news, the Post reports, is that BU researchers came away convinced that at least one glucosamine preparation, glucosamine hydrochloride, definitely does not work.
The results of trials involving another common preparation, glucosamine
sulfate, showed wide variation — more than would be expected by
chance, the Post reports, but less than could be expected "if industry support were a source of bias." In other words, until "industry" learns to let researchers be researchers, we will never know what works and what doesn't. On the other hand, it's possible that one or two definitive marketing studies have concluded that it's way better for industry to keep us guessing. Read more in the Washington Post.
Read more about earlier glucosamine studies here.
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Well I do know that it worked for my dog who had some joint issues from an injury. I gave her elk antler velvet (which she loved to eat). It is a super high source of glucosamine and after a few months it really did help her movement and her ability to run. So who knows about humans but I think it is pretty good.
jh
boda weight loss
I have been taking Glucosamine for quite a while and I notice if I forget to take it for a couple of days. My knee joint pain is quite bothersome without it. I am 35 years old and suffer from joint pain and Glucosamine definately helps me. Maybe my mind believes it is going to work so I feel better, I don’t know. If so that is ok by me because I feel better when I take it.
I think that Glucosamine which is made by raw materials, is quite beneficial for healthy joints .And i have found some more effective products at Rainbow
Wellbeing (www.rainbowwellbeing.com).
100% sure Glucosamine Chondroitin works for me. No study needed. Ski a lot, play a lot of volleyball. No glucosamine…lot of joint pain, both during and after exercise. With glucosamine…new knees. Dramatic difference. Having said that, have had friends that tried it and saw no benefit. May be because their problem is different, or may be that glucosamine efficacy is a function of specific body chemistry. Don’t know…but what I can say for sure is that there’s no doubt it is helping me in a big way.
Is Triflex a good product? I have used the GNC type and think that there must be something better out there.
I guess I am asking what is the best brand name stuff? Moderately priced please. In these hard times we have to live as frugal as we can but we want to be healthy also.
Hi Tracy,
I’ve been using Osteo BiFlex, I think it’s sold by Wahlgreens or Longs..can’t recall. But frequently they have 2 for 1 sales, buy one bottle get the second free. Works out to be a decent buy. Can’t comment on the others and whether GNC is better or worse, I’m sticking with what I’ve been using because it works.