According to USA today, a massive government study concluded that glucosamine sulfate, either alone or in combination with chondroitin, failed to outperform the placebo and, of course, the painkiller Celebrex. One simply needs to scroll down to the b... *
we shall see "i am a middle aged, tournament 'A' ranked racquetball player who is in almost constant pain in most of my joints. i also have just gotten through an acute (my first!!) attack of gout. i just started taken this product today on the recommendation of a..." -- Jim (Sports Enthusiast)
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
According to USA today, a massive government study concluded that glucosamine sulfate, either alone or in combination with chondroitin, failed to outperform the placebo and, of course, the painkiller Celebrex. One simply needs to scroll down to the bottom of the article to read how the lead researcher and ten scientists who worked on the study received "fees or grant support" from Pfizer (makers of Celebrex) or McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals (makers of Tylenol). Additionally, there was a dramatic 20% dropout rate during the study as well as 60% of participants who felt that the dummy pills made them feel better (twice typical placebo effect).
On the heels of the controversy surrounding the study, the lead researcher presented findings that, according to Omeract OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International) response criteria, the combination of glucosamine and chondrotin was significantly higher than the placebo. Apparently, these supplements failed to meet pharmaceutical standards of efficacy as the GAIT study was conducted under an Investigational New Drug application.
The 'Coke' and 'Pepsi' of pharmaceutical arthritic drugs have made for some interesting and scary headlines. During the first three months that Celebrex (Pfizer product) was put on the US market, side effects were reported, accounting for 10 deaths and 11 instances of gastrointestinal hemorrhages. Vioxx (Merck product), it has already been determined, can double a person's risk of heart attack and stroke with long term use - consequently it was pulled from the shelves.
Glucosamine and chondroitin, it has been shown, have analgesic effects after two to three months of treatment. They may not have the initial pain-relieving qualities of their pharmaceutical counterparts, but they lack the side effects (which can be dramatic in arthritis drugs), and they have restorative properties that drugs lack; in other words, they treat the root cause of cartilage deterioration rather than just the symptom of joint pain.
Glucosamine is an amino sugar that plays an important role in the formation and repair of bodily connective tissue. A multicenter European study out of Spain involving 318 osteoarthritis patients has shown that those with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis taking glucosamine sulfate experienced greater pain relief than those taking acetaminophen or the placebo. The principal investigator of the study felt that while glucosamine does indeed exhibit an analgesic effect after 2-3 months, acetaminophen is better for treating acute pain.
While glucosamine sulfate is a dietary supplement in North America, it is a prescription medication in many European countries. Glucosamine sulfate in generally regarded as side-effect free after months or even years of supplementation as compared with many NSAIDs that may cause ulcers, bleeding, or organ damage after long-term use.
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Directions
Adults: Take one caplet twice daily with water.
Cautions
Not recommended for those on potassium-reduced diets, especially those with severe renal disease.
Also, not recommended for those having adverse reactions to sulfate.
Label Information
This product contains no artificial preservatives, color, milk, soya, corn, wheat or yeast.
Additional Information
Swiss Herbal products are an exclusive line of premium quality, natural source vitamins, minerals and supplements as well as herbs, cosmetics and herbal remedies. All products are prepared to the highest standards of quality control, from raw materials right through the entire manufacturing process. Samples are sent to independent laboratories to verify that these high standards are met or surpassed for purity, potency, stability and freshness.
All Swiss Herbal products are packed in tamper-proof pharmaceutical-grade& recyclable containers.
All vitamins and supplements are guaranteed for purity, potency and stability for up to three years.
i am a middle aged, tournament 'A' ranked racquetball player who is in almost constant pain in most of my joints. i also have just gotten through an acute (my first!!) attack of gout. i just started taken this product today on the recommendation of a hard-core rugby player (football without the pads) who says that this product has changed his life. we shall see how it works for me - here's hoping!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
