Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 154
fashion health & beauty
Island Life - December 2010
Glucosamine:
LEVEL
Doubts cast
over the
benefits of
treatment
used by
thousands
Island residents who have been taking the
glucosamine, a purified derivative from
to treat osteoarthritis pain in knee joints,
shellfish, follows a series of conflicting
may find themselves having to pay for it
results on the benefit of glucosamine for
themselves in future following claims it has
osteoarthritis. However the sale of the
no long-term beneficial effect.
supplement continues to see annual growth
A report, undertaken by a team of
of around 10 per cent in the joint health
Canadian researchers, has seriously
category, with consumption of between
questioned the benefits of glucosamine. The
4,000-6,000 tons annually.
findings will come as a shock to the hundreds
This is driven by rising numbers of arthritis
of Islanders who regularly take it in an effort
sufferers. More than seven million adults in
to ease joint pain.
the UK, which represents 15 per cent of the
Last year alone Island GPs wrote 1,317
population have long-term health problems
prescriptions for glucosamine at a cost of
due to arthritis and related conditions,
£44,621.66 to the IOW NHS medicines
and 550,000 have moderate to severe
budget. But following a recent meeting of
osteoarthritis in their knees.
senior local clinicians it was decided to advise
When Island Life unearthed the Canadian
GPs not to prescribe glucosamine on NHS
findings, we spoke to Paul Jerram, the
prescriptions for osteoarthritis.
Head of Medicines Management for Isle of
The Canadian study investigated whether
Wight NHS Primary Care Trust, asking for his
the food supplement could prevent painful
reaction. Our request came just at the time
flare-ups in patients who had already been
when Island GPs were meeting to discuss
taking it for two years on average, with
whether glucosamine should be available on
some signs of benefit. But the results showed
prescription.
that there was little difference compared
154
The study, which used medicinal grade
food supplement glucosamine on prescription
Mr. Jerram explained: “Glucosamine is
with placebo. A total of 42 per cent of
currently available as both food supplements
placebo patients experienced flare-ups in the
and as licensed medicines. There are currently
six-month follow-up, compared with 45 per
three glucosamine products which are
cent in the glucosamine group. In addition,
licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare
subjects using glucosamine flared as quickly
products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to treat
and as severely as those using a placebo, the
mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) of the
researchers reported.
knee.
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