Hurry, hurry, hurry! shouted a recent full-page ad in the Baltimore Sun: Call the Regional Hotline now to order the "amazing joint health miracle." The ad went on to warn that drug stores have already sold out of the miracle drug Trigosamine, and that the Hotline would only be open for another 72 hours!
Like many supplements sold for the treatment of the joint pain caused by osteoarthritis, Trigosamine contains chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. Chondroitin sulfate is an important structural component of the cartilage that lines the joints. Glucosamine is required for the formation of proteins present in cartilage.
Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing out or deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones within joints, so both of these substances are widely used in an effort to relieve the pain and slow the progression of this disorder.
Many studies have been carried out to determine whether chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, either alone or in combination, are effective treatments for osteoarthritis pain. The results of these studies are mixed — some show modest benefits, while others find no benefit from their use.
Perhaps the best study is the double-blind, placebo-controlled glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, which gave glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, a combination of the two, or a placebo to 1,583 patients with painful osteoarthritis of the knees over a 24-week period.
The study's conclusions, published in the February 23, 2006, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that "glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination did not reduce pain effectively in the overall group of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee." However, the researchers go on to state that early analyses suggested that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may be effective in patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain.
Hyaluronic acid, the "miracle" molecule in Trigosamine, is a naturally produced substance that is important for lubricating the movements of joints. But it is not known whether hyaluronic acid ingested in pill form improves joint lubrication or relieves joint-related knee pain. You can try Trigosamine at a cost of about a dollar a day.
If you want to investigate the many other supplements available for the treatment of osteoarthritis, you might check out the Web site of the Consumer Health Digest, which describes the "25 top products" in this category and indicates they all provide some degree of pain relief and slow the progression of the disorder. It seems highly unlikely, however, that these judgments on the effectiveness of these products are derived from careful clinical trials.
Whether or not chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine or any of these other supplements for knee pain actually overcome osteoarthritis pain, these substances don't appear to have any of the side effects of the most widely used treatment: both prescription and over-the-counter painkillers like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). (Interestingly, the NSAIDs are not even an appropriate treatment option for osteoarthritis because it is not an inflammatory disorder at all!) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a better option but may not be powerful enough to relieve the pain.
For sure, you must be wary of miracle health products advertised in newspapers and online. But if you feel you are out of options after trying traditional over-the-counter and prescription drugs, one of these supplements may help relieve your knee pain.
