Does Glucosamine Work for Joint Health?

Millions of people suffering from osteoarthritis turn to glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to improve their joint health, but does glucosamine work? Studies have consistently suggested they don’t.

What are Glucosamine and Chondroitin?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural, structural compounds found in healthy cartilage, the tissue that lines and cushions the body’s joints. It can also be found in other connective tissue, including tendons, ligaments, and skin.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are also manufactured as dietary supplements by harvesting the material from the shells of shellfish, or from other animals, or by creating it in a laboratory, according to the Mayo Clinic.

U.S. consumers can buy glucosamine and chondroitin separately, but they are commonly sold together in a single supplement.

What are Glucosamine and Chondroitin Used For?

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are marketed to consumers to treat a painful condition caused by the inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of joint cartilage known as osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects an estimated 32.5 million adults in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Referred to as a degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis, it occurs most frequently in the knees, hips, spine, and hands. The disease sets in gradually over time, beginning with the slow breakdown of the cartilage, which causes changes to the underlying bones. Over time, as the cartilage cushions disintegrate, the bones come in direct contact at the joints. The friction between the bones typically causes painful stiffness and swelling and over time weakens the joint.

Osteoarthritis sufferers often experience reduced function in the affected joints, which can cause disability, preventing them from performing daily tasks or working.

Since there is no known cure for osteoarthritis, treatment is aimed at avoiding, stopping, or slowing down the loss of cartilage.

Glucosamine and chondroitin have anti-inflammatory properties and can protect cells called chondrocytes, which help maintain cartilage structure. In theory, these supplements have the potential to slow cartilage deterioration in the joints, and to reduce pain in the process, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Does Glucosamine Work?

Researchers have studied the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin, separately and together, on osteoarthritis for decades as scientists sought to answer the question does glucosamine work. Reports of those studies indicate that the majority of the research had conflicting results as to whether the supplements had a significant effect on symptoms or joint damage associated with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.

“They are touted not only as arthritis pain relievers but also as treatments to prevent joint disease. Yet, a number of past studies have come to mixed conclusions,” said Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, a senior faculty editor at Harvard Health, in an article published on the organization’s website in 2016 and updated last year.

The most comprehensive study of the supplements, the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), was conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in two waves. It compared glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin, both supplements together, a prescription drug used to manage osteoarthritis pain, and a placebo in 1,600 patients with osteoarthritis in their knees experiencing mild pain.

At the end of the first wave of the study, published in 2006, researchers found “overall, those who received the supplements had no significant improvement in knee pain or function, although the investigators saw evidence of improvement in a small subgroup of patients with moderate to severe pain who took glucosamine and chondroitin together,” according to a report on the NIH website.

Follow-up results released in 2010 showed the supplements did not improve pain or function any better than the prescription pain medication or the placebo.

In 2008, another glucosamine and chondroitin trial concluded that of 572 people taking the supplements over the course of two years, none showed any difference in loss of joint space width, a precursor to arthritis.

More recently, according to Dr. Shmerling’s article in Harvard Health questioning does glucosamine work, a 2016 study of glucosamine and chondroitin enrolled 164 patients with osteoarthritis knee pain and gave half of them a combination of the supplements. The other half received an identical placebo pill.

“The study was stopped early for an unusual reason — those taking the supplement actually reported worse symptoms than those taking a placebo,” Dr. Shmerling wrote.

Additionally, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has recommended neither glucosamine nor chondroitin is used to manage symptoms or associated pain.

Why Have Lawsuits Been Filed?

In light of the lack of evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin effectively treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis, a number of lawsuits have been filed against supplement makers claiming otherwise. Dating to 2013, plaintiffs have sued manufacturers they claim are misleading consumers.

In 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against Reckitt Benckiser’s “Schiff Move Free Advanced” joint health supplements, a glucosamine and chondroitin based supplement marketed to provide “mobility, comfort, strength, flexibility [and] lubrication.” Lead plaintiff Maureen Carrigan claims that Reckitt Benckiser’s claims about the efficacy of its product are untrue.

Carrigan says she purchased the joint health supplements hoping it would provide her with the joint benefits advertised by the manufacturer, but they did not. She claims that Reckitt Benckiser LLC knew or should have known that its supplements were not effective based on the wide variety of scientific evidence—including the GAIT trials.

The makers of Joint Juice, Osteo Bi-Flex, Schiff Move Free, and Costco’s Kirkland Signature Glucosamine have been sued by consumers based on numerous scientific studies showing the products don’t work. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs in those lawsuits are also investigating claims made by other joint health supplement makers.

Should You Join a Glucosamine Class Action Lawsuit?

If you have purchased glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to treat the pain of osteoarthritis or to prevent its progression based on claims by its manufacturers that it is effective, and found that it hasn’t helped, you might be eligible to participate in a class action lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Consulting with an attorney is the first step in determining whether your experience would qualify you.

Join a Free Ginkgo Biloba or Glucosamine False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased a ginkgo biloba OR glucosamine product believing you would benefit from the health claims made, you may qualify for a false advertising class action lawsuit.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.