It seems to slow the arthritic process, but it doesn't repair the joint surface. However, the Arizona study raises questions. The fact that cartilage does not have blood vessels, and gets its only nutrition by seepage through the surrounding membrane, probably makes it easier for substances like glucosamine and chondroitin to work their way there, said Dr. Lou Lippiello, director of laboratory research at Nutramax Laboratories, one of the leading manufacturers of the treatment and a partial sponsor of the Hendersonville and Phoenix studies. It seems to have an affinity for joints that are undergoing some kind of trauma or stress. It will look at glucosamine, chondroitin and the two together to see whether they help control arthritis pain and whether they actually attack the underlying disease.
Most orthopedic surgeons advise their patients to try it, under a doctor's guidance.
Insurance generally does not cover the treatment, and physicians caution children and pregnant women not to use it. Anyone who has diabetes or is taking the blood-thinning drug heparin also should be careful. And researchers warn that many of the low-cost concoctions being marketed today do not contain quality products. The Boston Globe. All rights reserved.