Glucosamine and MSM Synergistic for Arthritis

July 22, 2004

Wed 21 July, 2004 20:14

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Two popular supplements work together to treat

arthritis caused by wear and tear on the joints, a new study confirms.

Combined glucosamine and methylsulfonylmethane -- better known as just MSM

-- is more effective against osteoarthritis than either agent alone,

according to Indian researchers.

In the journal Clinical Drug Investigations, Drs. P. R. Usha and M. U. R.

Naidu report that although the individual agents did improve pain and

swelling in patients' affected joints, the combined therapy was more

effective than the single agents in reducing these symptoms and improving

the function of joints.

In a clinical trial conducted at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences in

Hyderabad, 118 patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis were treated

three times daily with either 500 milligrams of glucosamine, 500 milligrams

of methylsulfonylmethane, a combination of both, or an inactive placebo.

After 12 weeks of treatment, the average pain score had fallen from 1.74 to

0.65 in the glucosamine-only group. In MSM-only participants, it fell from

1.53 to 0.74. However, in the combination group, it fell from 1.7 to 0.36.

The researchers also found that the combination treatment had a faster

effect on pain and inflammation compared to glucosamine alone.

All of the treatments were well tolerated.

" It can be concluded, " they observe, " that the combination of

methylsulfonylmethane with glucosamine provides better and more rapid

improvement in patients with osteoarthritis. "

SOURCE: Clinical Drug Investigations, June 2004.

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