# Glucosamine and chondroiton - snake oil or the real deal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glucosamine-and-chondroiton-snake-oil-or-the-real-deal/682687 "2014-03-02T18:24:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glucosamine-and-chondroiton-snake-oil-or-the-real-deal/682687/41 "2014-03-12T03:48:44Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This [article](http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/news/20140311/knee-pain-may-not-be-helped-by-glucosamine) on WebMD says no - based on study published in a medical journal which used MRI scans and pain assessment in a double-blind study. Again, Glucosamine has a very specific “skill set”: it lubricates the miniscus. It is not a pain killer. It doesn’t restore cartilage. It doesn’t work for everybody. That article is “proving” something different. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glucosamine-and-chondroiton-snake-oil-or-the-real-deal/682687/42 "2014-03-12T23:14:09Z")
I have been on various opiates for osteoarthritis (irreversible deterioration of inter-joint ligament, leaving bone-on-bone contact). GC was suggested by a doc - I found it modified the pain to a duller (and slightly more tolerable) version. This was just before the FDA announced the results of its study: worthless. A very BIG YMMV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glucosamine-and-chondroiton-snake-oil-or-the-real-deal/682687.md?page=2)