They may be generating statistically significant sales, but little evidence exists to show that glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate relieve chronic joint pain.
"The field is rich in anecdotal reports and poor studies about the effectiveness of these therapies," Robert D'Ambrosia, MD, first vice president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, warned during the academy's annual writers conference, held last month in New York City. "The most impressive fact about these therapies is the enormous amount of money consumers are spending on unproven treatments."
Even though both substances, which occur naturally in the body, often are marketed to "repair" arthritic joints and may be used to supplement anti-inflammatory agents to reduce pain, "there are no large-scale studies in the United States that show the substances regrow cartilage or reverse the effects of osteoarthritis," D'Ambrosia said.
His warning on unproven therapies also included the use of magnets to relieve . . . [Full Text of this Article]
