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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) Oct 27 - Glucosamine, a popular
food supplement used by arthritis patients to prevent painful flare-ups,
has no long-term benefit, Canadian researchers said on Wednesday.
The University of British Columbia researchers found that 45% of
glucosamine users still experienced arthritis attacks during a 6-month
period, compared with only 42% who were given a placebo.
"Our study shows that even if the supplement was initially
perceived by study participants to be helpful, it has no benefit
for maintenance, and continued use is not effective to control flare-ups,"
said lead researcher Jolanda Cibere.
The researchers studied 137 patients in four Canadian cities who
had been using glucosamine for an average of 2 years and had credited
it for at least a moderate improvement in their condition.
Cibere said some of the patients told her they planned to keep
using the supplement even after hearing the results of the study,
which was conducted in conjunction with the Arthritis Research Center
in Vancouver.
"Some said, yes, they did stop it and felt no difference.
Others said they did not want to stop and they truly believed in
it regardless of the results," she said.
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