Glucosamine Chondroitin Intervention Trial (GAIT) results

Despite the mostly negative headlines on television stations and in newspapers, let us sort through the results tactfully. In fact, if you read most of the quotes from physician's in these reports, they are pleased by the results and see no reason not to keep recommending glucosamine/chondroitin.

Nevertheless, here are the exact words from The New England Journal of Medicine's study.

Results The mean age of the patients was 59 years, and 64 percent were women. Overall, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were not significantly better than placebo in reducing knee pain by 20 percent. As compared with the rate of response to placebo (60.1 percent), the rate of response to glucosamine was 3.9 percentage points higher, the rate of response to chondroitin sulfate was 5.3 percentage points higher, and the rate of response to combined treatment was 6.5 percentage points higher. The rate of response in the celecoxib control group was 10.0 percentage points higher than that in the placebo control group. For patients with moderate-to-severe pain at baseline, the rate of response was significantly higher with combined therapy than with placebo (79.2 percent vs. 54.3 percent). Adverse events were mild, infrequent, and evenly distributed among the groups.

When you read the fine point, you see that glucosamine/chondroitin was quite effective (25% reduction) for the group that is supposed to be taking them, those with moderate to severe arthritis pain. We rarely recommend glucosamine/chondrotin as a preventive or first option for reducing mild arthritis pain. It can be more easily remedied with omega-3 fish oil and dietary modification. Moderate to severe pain usually means that there is significant degradation of joints and cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin have shown to help repair and minimize further degradation of the joints and cartilage. Even though the target was 20% for all participants, we are not surprised that those with mild arthritis showed only single digit improvements. What is more shocking is that celecoxib (Celebrex), whose family of drugs have come under scrutiny over the last year, showed only a 10% improvement.

As we have said many times, glucosamine/chondroitin is not for everyone. It should only be used for those with moderate to severe arthritis pain. We have many clients who cannot tolerate glucsoamine/chondroitin because of allergy to shellfish, sensitivity to sulfur derivatives, and its acidic nature. There are other first line therapies for mild arthritis pain.

Bonnie and Steve