Glucosamine - the hype

Glucosamine is naturally found in the body. It's involved in the formation and repair of cartilage and is a major part of bones, ligaments, tendons, and the synovial fluid that lubricates your joints.

It's been used for more than 20 years and during this time 16 randomised controlled trials have shown that it's both effective and safe in the short term.

Mixed results

According to a Cochrane Review of 20 studies, glucosamine improved pain more than a placebo and seems to be safe. But when the review was restricted to eight high-quality studies, the pain improved about the same whether people took glucosamine or the placebo.

Other trials have produced mixed results. A large US study of nearly 1600 people with knee osteoarthritis (which was funded by the National Institute of Health) examined the benefits of glucosamine alone, chondroitin alone, glucosamine and chondroitin together, Celebrex (a pain reliever), and a placebo.

For the group as a whole, no supplement had any effect in terms of pain, stiffness, or swelling, although Celebrex did afford some pain relief. However, in 22 percent of patients with moderate to severe pain glucosamine or chondroitin provided more relief than a placebo did.

The Australian government has funded a major research project to look at the cost-benefits of glucosamine. This could lead to glucosamine being considered for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - and, if it was accepted, it'd be subsidised for Australian consumers.

Not for everyone

• Glucosamine is usually extracted from crab, lobster or shrimp shells. So people with shellfish allergies shouldn't use it. You can also buy "vegetarian" glucosamine that's made from maize starch.
  
  
• If you have diabetes, check with your GP before taking glucosamine. While it appears safe in the short-term, there's evidence that in the long-term it could make your diabetes worse.
  
  
• Glucosamine hasn't been tested on pregnant or breastfeeding women and it may not be suitable for children.

Case study - worth a try

Lee Pomeroy (right) is doing her own trial to see if glucosamine is helping her soreness and stiffness. Lee took glucosamine for two months - two tablets per day as recommended on the bottle.

After one month she did notice an improvement but she had also started a new gym programme, which may have accounted for the improvement.

Lee has now stopped taking glucosamine for a couple of months to see if it was the gym or the glucosamine. If her aches and pains get worse she'll start taking the supplements again.