I’ve been told by two not-stupid people that glucosamine sulfate can help with one’s aching, creaky joints. Should I take some to hold my aging skeleton together, or might I just as well chant to crystals?
Is there any legitimate evidence to back up this stuff?
Cal has gout, but he also may have initiating arthritis. This is damned unfair! I’m too young to feel this old! I play racquetball. I bicycle! I ski, dammit! I visited a specialist about the gout, and he suggested glucosamine sulfate for those joint problems that weren’t due to gout. Apparently there IS some real medical evidence to back this up, although I don’t have it. You can check the web. I think there’s been a recent thread on the SDMB about this.
Mrs. Cal takes glucosamine, and swears it makes a diff. So do Cal’s parents. Of course, all the patent medicine bottles were covered with testimonials, too.
That said, I haven’t noticed any difference myself upon taking glucosamine.
Darn Eve
I was hoping you were going to tell us about a study claiming banana oil is a joint suppliment.
The last time I looked the label still says something like these statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
I’m taking hydrolyzed collagen. It is supposed to provide essential nutriants for cartilage repair processes.
I don’t know if it is working or not but the idea that I’m at least supplying the building blocks makes sense to me.
And if I’m just wasting my money then I’ve picked one of the least expensive products.
You may wish to look here.
Thanks for the link, Karl. Hmmm . . . Not terribly encouraging. I guess I will keep taking the bottle I already bought, but I’m not sure if I will buy another . . .
not that this necessarily indicates anything for humans, but I know many people that use glucosamine (and/or its little pal, chondritin) for their older horses and dogs and most notice a substantial difference in freedom of movement / willingness to move. Within the horse community it is generally regarded as effective and not a waste of money.
Mind you, the following article is from the Alternative Medicine Review, but anyway it notes the results of a study on humans. The results were favorable from what I skimmed.
When I asked my orthopedic surgeon about this she said its a good idea but that she has her family eat chicken cartilage instead because its just as effective and cheaper.
Great…I’m getting medical advice from a cheap Dr. Mengele.
hedgehog