Glucosamine and chondroitin 'are ineffective but harmless'

UK Net Guide ^ | 9/17/10 | Tim Lesnik

[dangerdoc]

I tried it and it didn't help, I thought it was just me.

[GraceG]

I think eating the carlidge off the ends of chicken bones does more good. I always eat the gristle.

[cripplecreek]

It might just be you. Not all things work the same for all people.

[oh8eleven]

Glucosamine and chondroitin 'are ineffective but harmless'
There's a lot to be said for the placebo effect.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Used it for years as has my wife and a number of people we know. It works. Like a lot of treatments, unfortunately it doesn’t work for everyone, nor does it work to the same degree for those it does help.

I also know a doctor that does research into supplements and his opinion is that it has benefits.

Magic bullet? No. Nothing is.

[relictele]

I would submit that dogs are immune to any placebo effect.

I had a friend who owned a Rottweiler that developed a painful case of hip dysplasia. It was only 2 years old and would barely move due to the discomfort. A course of glucosamine and it was running free.

[SmartInsight]

I think it’s highly dependent on the status of the joint at the time treatment is started — I think if it’s just beginning, they might help, but once it progressed beyond a certain point, they don’t.

I would like to know what was the initial deterioration of the people they followed in the trials.

I have heard from people who have had very positive experiences with these supplements.

[ErnBatavia]

I’ve been dosing for around a year because of creaky shoulder probs.....about ready to drop it. Nothing different noticed.

[Mr. Jazzy]

I do not use it or (thankfully) need it at this point, but our dog, who is a family protector and now 10 years old, is given this on a daily basis. She was having trouble with her joints and getting up. Within a week of giving her the recommended three doses a day, she was jumping up and running around like she was 3 again! We also recommended this supplement to friends of our who’s dog is a ripe old 15, and she has a lot more freedom of movement and doing great.

I know it is all anecdotal, but it has worked for us.

[Scythian]

Agreed, there are tons and tons of examples of pharmaceutical companies putting forth fraudulent studies to get thier drugs approved. They think nothing of paying for studies with designated outcomes trying to persuade America that natural supplements don't work. However, all you have to do is look at the massive effort they are undertaking to get natural supplements entirely banned to realize they know that in fact, they do work, and present a clear danger to their bottom line.

[altura]

I give the stuff to my big lab every day and have for years. He never says anything about it one way or the other.

[loungitude]

My Rottweiler had bad hip pain. Glucosamine condroitin worked like magic. Also, my Dad had knee pain. He said the stuff worked great.

[dblshot]

My lab is on Caniflex which contains Glucosamine among other things. She was limping and so stiff in her hips she had trouble sitting down. Big improvement since she started taking this liquid on her food. Just saying...

[mia]

It does work. I take Celebrex in the a.m. and was having pain at night, so much so that I couldn’t sleep on either of my hips. I was taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin in the a.m. but not twice a day as recommended. After checking the dosage, I discovered I had to take it twice day. My pain level has decreased demonstrably. I no longer have to take pain killers to get through the day.

[raybbr]

Do you have to keep taking it? Or, can you stop after awhile?

[Opinionated Blowhard]

LOL. I know someone who swore by them. I have to find their email and send them this article. I guess, ironically, it did work for my friend even if it has no real effect. “Placebo Effect” indeed.

[goseminoles]

Never worked for arthritic hips but it helped a Lab I had.

[GailA]

Might try adding Collagen, after all that is the key thing that gets depleted in joints. I use the glucosamine and chondroitin and didn’t get as much relief as I had hoped, but when I added 2 Collagen tablets daily within a few weeks noticed the difference in the knuckles of my right hand, where the OA is the worse. Daily pain is less, unless I really over do it.

[oh8eleven]

I've never used glucosamine and chondroitin, but I have used other dietary supplements which have also been "proven" not to work. The alternative was a prescription drug with a number of side effects.
The supplements worked for me with no side effects and when my doctor claimed it was probably just a placebo effect, I asked him what's the difference if they work? No reply.

[puppypusher]

I wrecked my knee and following surgery I was barely able to walk without a cane.Since using Osteo BiFlex that contains those two ingredients I am not only able to walk but I can walk painlessly.

I won’t be running any marathons but as long as I’m able to work I can delay knee replacement surgery.