Study Looks at Osteoarthritis

LONDON (AP) â€” The popular nutritional supplement glucosamine sulfate could be the first treatment to slow the progression of osteoarthritis, new research suggests. <br><br>Boston University Medical Center

Friday, January 26th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) â€” The popular nutritional supplement glucosamine sulfate could be the first treatment to slow the progression of osteoarthritis, new research suggests.

Boston University Medical Center arthritis expert Tim McAlindon said the report by Belgian scientists, published this week in The Lancet medical journal, is a landmark in osteoarthritis research.

``Scarce currency has been given to the notion that progression of osteoarthritis could be retarded pharmacologically, let alone by a nutritional product,'' he said. ``The report ... may radically change this situation.''

Osteoarthritis is a painful degenerative joint disease that affects the knees, hips, back and the small joints in the fingers. It afflicts about 4 percent the population and is present in almost everyone by the age of 70.

Glucosamine sulfate is a synthetic version of a body substance that helps build cartilage, the tough tissue that lines the joints. Laboratory studies have suggested it might impede cartilage destruction, though whether it does so in humans remains to be seen.

The supplement is marketed for the treatment of arthritis and is sold over the counter in health food stores in the United States and Britain. In parts of Europe, it is licensed as a prescription drug.

More arthritics take glucosamine and its companion nutritional supplement, chondroitin, than take traditional painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and often unbeknownst to their doctors, said Dr. Jack Klippel, medical director of the American Arthritis Foundation.

Previous studies have indicated glucosamine could dull the pain of arthritis, but experts say the latest study is a watershed because it shows for the first time that it could improve the structure of the joints.

``This provides reasonably compelling evidence that it improves the disease,'' Klippel said. ``This will lead to greater acceptance of glucosamine as a reasonable and safe treatment for osteoarthritis.''

The study by scientists at the University of Liege, Belgium, involved 212 people with arthritic knees. Half were given glucosamine sulfate tablets daily for three years and the others were given dummy pills.

The researchers compared their knee X-rays at the beginning of the study, after one year on the tablets and after three years to determine the progress of the disease.

``The results are impressive,'' McAlindon said. ``Patients assigned to glucosamine experienced significant improvements in pain and disability that were sustained for the three years of the study, whereas the scores among the placebo group worsened.''

Side effects were the same for both pills.

``Glucosamine sulfate could play an important part in the long-term therapy of osteoarthritis,'' McAlindon said.

The findings may, however, stir debate over the regulation of nutritional supplements, Klippel said.

``If this is going to become an important way to treat osteoarthritis, it will lead to questions about how the consumer will be able to tell exactly how much glucosamine is in which supplement brand.''

The study used pure glucosamine sulfate and the researchers said they don't know if other glucosamine products or mixtures such as those sold as dietary supplements would yield the same results.

The study was paid for by the Italian pharmaceutical company the Rotta Research Group of Milan, which makes osteoarthritis drugs.