Thursday, March 26, 2009

Glucosamine better alternative than ibuprofen!

Research finds glucosamine as effective as ibuprofen for treating TMJ pain

At a Glance

Research published in the Journal of Rheumatology compared the effects and benefits of glucosamine sulfate and ibuprofen in patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis. The temporomandibular joint or the joint of the jaw is frequently referred to as TMJ.

Read more about this study below.

USANA.comThe randomized double-blind study included 45 adults that received either glucosamine sulfate at 1,500 mg per day or ibuprofen at 1,200 mg per day for 90 days. Assessments included: TMJ pain with function, pain-free, and voluntary maximum mouth opening, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire, and masticatory (chewing) muscle tenderness. Tests were performed at the beginning and at day 90. Acetaminophen (500 mg) given for breakthrough pain was counted every 30 days to Day 120.

Positive clinical responses were seen in 71% of the glucosamine sulfate group and 61% of the ibuprofen group. Patients taking glucosamine sulfate had a significantly greater decrease in TMJ pain with function, effect of pain, and acetaminophen used between Day 90 and 120 compared with patients taking ibuprofen.

Glucosamine sulfate and ibuprofen both reduced pain levels in patients with TMJ degenerative joint disease, but in this group of patients glucosamine sulfate had a significantly greater influence in reducing both pain produced during function and effect of pain with daily activities. Researchers also noted that glucosamine sulfate had a carryover effect.

J Rheumatology 2001 Jun;28(6):1347-55.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Misconception about supplementation

Dr Ray Strand, who is a leading authority on the use of vitamin supplements, has mentioned that people often have a major miconception about supplementation and most feel that you should expect results within a few days or weeks. He is quoted below:

"There is a major misconception about supplementation. In this era of medication, people believe that they should notice differences within a few days to a week or two. However, nutritional medicine is totally different from allopathic or traditional Western medicine. Nutritional supplements are simply nutrients the body uses in its normal enzymatic reactions. They are not medicines. They are nutrients from our foods, but supplementation allows us to get them at optimal levels that diet alone cannot provide.
It takes between 6 to 12 months to replenish any nutritional deficiency and optimize the body’s natural immune system, antioxidant defense system, and repair system. If you are over 30 years of age or already have a chronic degenerative disease, it may even take longer. This is why I stress over and over that you need to give nutritional supplementation a minimum of 6 months, or even better a year, before you evaluate the benefits. When my patients tell me that they will try using my recommended supplements for a month, I tell them not to even start. If you are not willing to try my recommendations for at least 6 months, you should not even begin".

Friday, March 6, 2009

Glucosamine helps with knee or joint pain

Glucosamine improves function in people experiencing regular knee pain

At a Glance

In a group of adults experiencing regular knee pain, a daily dose of 2,000 mg of glucosamine sulfate reduced pain, improved function, and enhanced quality of life in as little as eight weeks.

Read more about this study below.

USANA.comA study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine examined the effects of glucosamine supplementation on functional ability and chronic knee pain in individuals with previous cartilage damage or osteoarthritis.

Subjects were randomly supplemented with either glucosamine or placebo for 12 weeks at a dose of 2,000 mg per day. Four testing sessions were conducted during the study. Changes in knee pain and function were determined by clinical and functional tests (joint line palpation, a 3 meter "duck walk," and a repeated walking stair climb). Additionally, two different questionnaires were used to evaluate changes in pain.

The glucosamine group was found to have significantly better quality of life scores at weeks 8 and 12 than the placebo group. Based on self-report evaluations of changes during the 12 week supplementation period, 88% of the glucosamine group reported some degree of improvement in their knee pain versus only 17% in the placebo group.

These results suggest that glucosamine supplementation can provide some degree of pain relief and improved function in individuals who experience chronic knee pain due to previous cartilage damage or osteoarthritis. The results also suggest that at a dosage of 2,000 mg per day, the majority of improvements are apparent after eight weeks.

Br J Sports Med 2003 Feb;37(1):45-9