I see a lot of patients with Osteoarthritis (OA) of multiple joints in the foot and ankle. I have read data over the last 7 years of seeing patients to support both as dietary supplementation to help with the pain and stiffness associated with OA. Many of my patients reported some level of reduction of stiffness and/or pain in taking both.
A few years ago, a large arthritis study group known GAIT had delivered some disappointing news: Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate didn't ease the pain in people with mild arthritis, though the combo did seem to help people with severe discomfort. New GAIT results further erode the hopes for the supplements, which don't appear to slow cartilage damage. Knees showed similar wear over two years, whether the patients took a placebo, a prescription painkiller, or supplements.
Still, these researchers are reserving final judgment, partly because volunteers' knees stayed healthier than expected. Looking at small differences (not big enough to be statistically reliable), the researchers say that patients on glucosamine alone fared the best. It seems that a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, where study patients did worse, may interfer with the other's absorption.
"The journey of life is taken one step at a time... none of them should be painful." G.M. Barclay, DPM, AACFAS
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