Posted by bluedog on November 29, 2002, at 10:23:14
In reply to GlucosamineBekka, posted by ItsHowdyDudyTime on November 27, 2002, at 20:32:06
> However I echo the above poster who put a study indicating that glucosamine/chondroitin supplements can raise blood sugar and screw around with insulin. I personally wouldnt take glucosamine because of this very reason.
The study I linked to actually indicated that glucosamine/chondroitin did NOT cause insulin resistance, even in a sample of rats with high susceptibility to insulin resistance.
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> Other than the raises blood sugar/insulin thing (which is pretty serious IMO) I have heard nothing bad about these supplements. However I refuse to use them due to this one bad side effect. Diabetes is serious stuff.I personally am not so convinced that anything and everything that raises blood sugar levels inevitably leads to insulin resistance or diabetes. I have read studies (I don't have them to hand but I can probably find them again) that basically say that to induce insulin resistance you firstly need to have a genetic susceptibility to this condition and then you really have to abuse yourself with the offending substances (eg alcohol, extremely high dietary sugar intake) or to be suffering from obesity (which often, but not always, results from poor lifestyle habits (abusing the offending substances, being completely inactive, high dietary fat intake etc). I do not think that taking glucosamine and/or Chondroitin supplements puts a person at that much risk of developing insulin resistance especially if you take the supplements in the context of a healthy lifestyle (ie good diet, good sleep habits and plenty of exercise). In light of my views I continue to take glucosamine because It has been demonstrated to be effective (see http://www.arthritis-glucosamine.net/glucosamine/ and http://www.arthritis-glucosamine.net/glucosamine/science/ ) and because it reduces the inflammation in my knees it allows me to continue exercising at levels I would otherwise be unable to do.
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> There are other OTC supplements Ive read about that are probably safer than glucosamine and chondroiten. something called "MSM" is supposed to be effective for joint pain and is oftentimes added to glucosamine products. Also, combinations of Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils taken together over long time periods are reported to have profound anti-inflammatory properties and excellent for bone and joint pain. Plus the Omega-3 oil is reported to have mood elevating properties when taken at high dosages.
I also take omega-3 fish oil supplements and turmeric to assist with bringing inflammation in my knees down . I suppose I take a poly-therapy approach to my health because I don't believe that any one therapy on it's own works as well as an overall approach.>
> Glucosamine and chondroiten products are also very very expensive, as Im sure you well know.
>To me, because glucosamine actually works I consider the cost worthwhile. The daily cost for the brand of supplements I take is about 44 cents (AUS $) or probably about 20 US cents which is cheaper than if I were to take NSAIDS for my problem and which have a far more serious side effect profile than glucosamine or chondroitin.
bluedog
poster:bluedog
thread:128994
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/129882.html