Are Glucosamine Supplements Effective?

Many consumers faced with a daunting amount of choices and information about vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary additions are wondering if glucosamine supplements are effective.

The answer, of course, is very complicated. It depends upon which condition the consumer hopes to alleviate or prevent. It also depends upon the lifestyle of the taker, the risk factors they present with or maintain, and the type of glucosamine supplement.

What are Glucosamine Supplements Taken For?

Because of all the supermarket and drug store choices and labeling, we have come to associate glucosamine supplements with bones and joints in particular. In truth, according to the Medline Plus website, glucosamine supplementation is sought after for other conditions in addition to taking glucosamine for joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. These conditions may include:

• Glaucoma—an eye disorder whereby the intraocular pressure of the eye is affected
• Interstitial cystitis—a bladder condition with pressure and pain not caused by infection
• Multiple sclerosis—a neurological disorder in which the sheaths of nerve endings are attacked by the immune system
• Human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)—related diseases acquired through exposure to infected bodily fluids.

Glucosamine is also a recommended supplement by some weight loss programs and used with jaw pain conditions, but for all the various applications, glucosamine is still known primarily for its purported beneficial properties for joint health.

Glucosamine Supplements and Arthritic Conditions

Osteoarthritis is associated with the aging process and typically is diagnosed over age 50. The touching of the two bones which come together in a joint is modified by the presence of cartilage which cushions and prevents the damage that continual friction could engender. In osteoarthritis, this cartilage has started to thin and may tear or wear away.

Sufferers of osteoarthritis take glucosamine in hopes of helping the joints and stopping the pain. According to The Conversation, supplementation using glucosamine is one of the most common forms of complementary medicine in the western world.

It is complementary in the sense that most sufferers still rely upon non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to control pain. While glucosamine and chondroitin have been used in prescriptive drugs, rarely do those that take glucosamine depend upon it entirely. This is unless it is being taken as a hoped-for arthritic preventative and then some wonder if glucosamine promises are science or snake oil.

What is Glucosamine and Why Is It Thought To Help Osteoarthritis?

As indicated on the Livestrong website, glucosamine is a natural substance produced by the body of humans and other animals in the joints themselves. There are chondrocyte cells in the joint capsule which take the naturally occurring glucosamine and synthesize it, turning its byproducts into elements to combine with collagen. Collagen works to make new and repair old cartilage.

Healthy cartilage is measured by its spongy, shock-absorbing, and flexible attributes which help to cushion a given joint—particularly one that bears the weight of the body such as a hip or a knee. It begins to degrade around age 50, when glucosamine is produced at a much slower rate and in lesser amounts.

Glucosamine also maintains synovial fluid, a naturally occurring lubrication present in joints. As the magic age of 50 approaches, this lubrication loses its viscosity. The combination of this reduced synovial slip and thinning cartilage produces stiffness and pain.

Are All Formulations of Glucosamine the Same When Treating Osteoarthritis?

According to Livestrong, glucosamine supplements vary. Those which contain glucosamine sulfate and a stabilizing sodium chloride are the most studied and the most commercially available. Several studies have found this particular formulation effective with osteoarthritis if the patient has a light to moderate case.

Improvements have been noted with pain and swelling, as well as ease of movement in the knees and hips. Improvements are less noticeable or non-existent in joints that are not weight-bearing like the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingers.

Glucosamine sulfate stabilized with potassium chloride is, for the most part, commercially unavailable as a supplement, as indicated by Livestrong. Although potassium chloride is used in this manner. There has also been little research invested in terms of clinical trials to determine effectiveness.

Both formulations of glucosamine sulfate are capable of being created synthetically in a scientific laboratory. The ingredients are also derived organically from the exoskeletons of crab, shrimp, and other shellfish.

The buyer needs to be aware of this fact if they are subject to allergic reactions to these marine food sources. It might also be noted that some religions prohibit the intake of shellfish, so personal evaluation of this source and its impact of religious observance would also be in order.

A third formulation of glucosamine is sold as a supplement—glucosamine and hydrogen chloride (HCl). Scientific evaluation of this combination has resulted in poor performance scores in relationship to treating osteoarthritis. Its claim to fame has been that it is thought to maintain the organic structure of glucosamine better and maintain stability once ingested.

Researchers of glucosamine HCl think that the quality of the product in combination with various dosages might have skewed the data and studies are still underway. Some scientists, according to Livestrong, believe that the presence of sulfur is a critical factor for bio-availability and to accomplish the jobs for which glucosamine is taken in the first place—cartilage repair and production.

Manufacturers of glucosamine HCl have been known to rely upon vegetable sources to obtain ingredients rather than shellfish. This makes it a viable alternative to those with allergies and religious objection. Additional research is needed, but at this time results are spotty at best.

What Dose of Glucosamine is the Most Effective?

Glucosamine is typically sold in 500 mg. tablets. According to WebMD, most glucosamine supplements recommended dosage is 1,500 mg. daily, taken in three separate doses of 500 mg. each.

A History of Misleading Labeling

A class action lawsuit filed in the spring of 2018 held Walmart Stores, Inc. accountable for purportedly misleading consumers through the false labeling of glucosamine supplements. The four initiating plaintiffs all purchased Spring Valley glucosamine sulfate for months or years from the big box retail chain in several states, believing it to be the most effective blend as labeled—glucosamine sulfate.

According to the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, powdered crystals from the Spring Valley supplement were scientifically analyzed by the plaintiffs’ team using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. This process revealed that the product was a mixture of glucosamine HCl and potassium sulfate crystals.

In other words, the consumers purchased the supplements believing them to be one formulation when they were, as previously indicated, the least effective glucosamine combination in terms of scientific studies. The defendant was accused of breach of implied warranties, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation, and violating various state deceptive and unfair trade practices act.

The plaintiffs indicated in the lawsuit that had they known the actual ingredients of the Spring Valley glucosamine supplements, they would have made another product choice. They follow in the footsteps of other consumers who filed a false advertising class action against Wellesse for their glucosamine supplements, eventually leading to a settlement compensating affected purchasers.

The four consumers in the Walmart class action are seeking to represent a class of an innumerable size. They hope to secure compensatory relief for themselves and the class in the form of “actual, general, special, incidental, pecuniary, statutory, punitive, and consequential damages and restitution.”

Additionally, the plaintiffs are seeking injunctive and declaratory relief which amounts to a stop order on the selling of the supplements and a formalized recall process.

Issues at Stake

According to the Walmart Stores, Inc. lawsuit, U.S. law and the laws of individual states govern dietary supplements by placing the responsibility of oversight directly on the manufacturers and distributors. State law usually supplements federal law by stepping in the gap when it comes to false or misleading advertising or labeling. This fact creates a complementary legal interface.

The narrative of the class action lawsuit indicates that dietary supplements like glucosamine are considered food—albeit not sole sources—under the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act. As a food, it can be considered spoiled or adulterated if “damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner.”

So, when a consumer goes to buy supplements at a store, they are at the mercy of the manufacturers and distributors. They must rely upon the presentation of contents as indicated by the label and advertisements. These can be misleading as this case indicates, and many believe glucosamine supplements are useless. While there is legal recourse, supplements are not regulated by any federal agency like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Due to this variable, the patron must constantly consider the adage, “buyer beware.” When you discuss options with your doctor, ask about the reputation of brands to get a professional opinion. This is especially helpful step if you consult with an arthritic care specialist, known as a rheumatologist. Naturopaths are another resource to consult with when considering supplements.

The Walmart Stores Inc. Lawsuit is Case No. 4:18-cv-00465 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Join a Free Glucosamine Chondroitin Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased a glucosamine or chondroitin product after seeing the joint health claims made about the product’s effectiveness, you may qualify to file or join a false advertising class action lawsuit.

Get a Free Case Evaluation Now