A number of years ago our website published an article supplied by the Pharmacy E-Bulletin which showed little to no benefit of glucosamine in joint pain/function - click here for that study. A larger study has now been released by Oslo University hospital confirms this in a study re taking the nutritional supplement provided no significant benefit to arthritis patients with chronic lower back pain. It was the first large, long-term study of its kind.

In the trial involved 125 patients who took 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 125 who took placebo pills daily for six months. The researchers found no significant differences and no reduction in pain- related disability between the two groups during the study and after one year - published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Lower back pain is a very common concern expressed by lon-term martial artists often aggravated by such actions as long deep stances and head level round house kicks.

The trial provided “no incentive for clinicians to recommend glucosamine for patients with chronic lower back pain,” published in an editorial published in JAMA. The research, which was funded by the Norwegian Low Back Pain Association, Norwegian Chiropractic Association and Wilhelmsens Research Fund, used glucosamine and placebo purchased from Pharma Nord, a closely held Danish company.

In summary, there are some researchers who believe that glucosamine may not be a waste of time, but they seem to be in the minority. One such researcher is Dr Reginster of the University of Liège in Belgium. In 2012 he published a study that reviewed numerous other studies over a 20 year period and he suggests there may be benefit for osteoarthritis of the lower limbs. He also notes that there are discrepancies in the data depending on the formulations supplied by different companies.