>
>RE:
>Dear List
>
>I was stimulated by this contribution to ask whether any of you have
>experience of recommending Glucosamine Sulphate or Chondroitin Sulphate
>to sufferers of osteoarthritis.
>
>I had a patient come in a few months ago, a professor at the local
>university, who had quite advanced hip OA and he had heard about these
>supplements and had started taking both of them combined and within a
>few months had dramatically reduced his intake of NSAIDS, increased his
>range of movements and become almost pain free.
>
dear john,
last month i found in the annual medical journal "HAREFUAH" (in hebrew) the
article "glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate for degenerative joint
disease" an original research. the abstract in english goes like
this:"osteoartritis results from progressive catabolic loss of cartilage
proteoglycans due to imbalance between synthesis and degradation. the
availability of glucosamine, an intermediate in mucopolysaccaharide
synthesis, can be rate-limiting for proteoglycan production in cartilage
tissue culture.
57 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee were randomized into
a group treated for 4 weeks with daily IV glucosamine sulfate (GS) togather
with 800 mg chondroitin sulfate, and a placebo group. knee pain at rest, on
movement and on palpation, as well as range of knee motion were then recorded.
in the GS group, there was significant reduction of clinical symptoms
(p<0.01), but no significant reduction in the placebo group. physicians'
assessment of tenderness and range of motion were significantly in favour
of the GS group (p<0.01). in those treated with glucosamine there were no
adverse reactions and no changes in laboratory blood test.
we conclude that GS can be considered the drug of choice for prolonged
treatment of osteoarthritis." (R.Debi, D.Robinson, G.Agar, N.Halperin
orthopedic dep., Assaf Harofeh medical centre, Zerifin Israel).
in israel there is no law against buying this medication without a doctor's
perscription. because for the last year my life is agony because of pain
due to OA in my knee, i just started to use GS+chondroitin. hope to let you
know in due time if it helps here.
Netta Harries
physiotherapist
israel
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