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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