Skip Navigation



Rheumatology Advance Access published online on March 31, 2007
Rheumatology, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kem026
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
46/5/731    most recent
kem026v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reginster, J.-Y.
Right arrow Articles by Neuprez, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reginster, J.-Y.
Right arrow Articles by Neuprez, A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Review

Current role of glucosamine in the treatment of osteoarthritis

Jean-Yves Reginster, Olivier Bruyere and Audrey Neuprez

WHO Collaborating Center, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

Correspondence to: Jean-Yves, Reginster, Bone and Cartilage Metabolism Research Unit, Chu Centre-Ville, Policliniques L. Brull, Quai Godefroid Kurth 45 (9ème étage) 4020 Liege, Belgium. E-mail: jyreginster{at}ulg.ac.be


  Abstract

Objectives. To evaluate the interest of using the various preparations of glucosamine for symptomatic and structural management of osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods. A critical analysis of the literature based on an exhaustive search (Medline, PubMed and manual search within the bibliography of retrieved manuscripts) from 1980 to 2005.

Results. Despite multiple controlled clinical trials of the use of glucosamine in OA (mainly of the knee), controversy on efficacy related to symptomatic improvement continues. Differences in results originate from the differences in products, study design and study populations. Symptomatic efficacy described in multiple studies performed with glucosamine sulphate (GS) support continued consideration in the OA therapeutic armamentarium. The most compelling evidence of a potential for inhibiting the progression of OA is also obtain with GS.

Conclusions. GS has shown positive effects on symptomatic and structural outcomes of knee OA. These results should not be extrapolated to other glucosamine salts [hydrochloride or preparations (over-the-counter or food supplements)] in which no warranty exists about content, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the tablets.

KEY WORDS: glucosamine, osteoarthritis, treatment, symptoms, structure

Submitted 8 November 2006; revised version accepted 12 January 2007.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.