|
Research in the US has found that oral glucosamine in doses used to treat arthritis may worsen insulin resistance. To have even a hint of arthritis these days is enough to head for the pharmacy to buy a tub of glucosamine tablets – and there is a little evidence that glucosamine in the form of glucosamine sulphate can help osteoarthritis. But a recent paper has raised questions about glucosamine's safety. Animal research in the past has found that glucosamine given intravenously can reduce the effectiveness of insulin – just the problem in people with type 2 or adult onset diabetes. The reason is thought to be that glucosamine can cause a traffic jam in one of paths that glucose takes when it's being used in cells. But there hasn't been much human evidence on oral glucosamine and what's called 'insulin resistance'. A small six-week study in the United States gave glucosamine sulphate in standard doses to volunteers and found that in people who were obese, insulin function deteriorated, bad blood fats like LDL cholesterol and triglycerides went up, and arteries became stiffer. So in other words, glucosamine seemed to have an effect on an already stressed system. This needs to be repeated in a large study but a sensible precaution with glucosamine and arthritis would be to lose weight first. It'll help your knees and perhaps keep you safer as well.
|
