Study: Glucosamine No Help for Knee Pain

A new study finds that glucosamine does not slow damage to knee joints in people with long-term (chronic) pain. Glucosamine is a dietary supplement. It is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Many people take it as a treatment for osteoarthritis, but its benefit is uncertain. Prior studies have had conflicting results. The new study included 201 adults with chronic knee pain. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received a daily drink (diet lemonade) that contained glucosamine. The other group received a placebo drink that did not contain the supplement. The study lasted 24 weeks. MRI images were taken of people’s knees before and after the study. The images showed no difference between groups in the degree of cartilage loss during the study. Breakdown of cartilage is a major source of osteoarthritis pain.