Arthritis is the #1 cause of disability in America today. It is now one of the most prevalent chronic health problems. Shockingly, nearly 1 in 3 Americans (nearly 70 million) live with some form of arthritis, costing the United States $86 billion a year in healthcare costs related to treating the illness. New science confirms nutritional supplements glucosamine and chondroitin are the right combination for effective knee pain relief. The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), funded by NIH, rigorously evaluated the efficacy and safety of glucosamine and chondroitin in 1,258 people, concluding in its abstract that the "combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is effective in treating moderate to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis."
GAIT lead researcher Daniel O. Clegg, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Chief of Rheumatology at the University of Utah, presented his landmark findings at the American College of Rheumatology's Scientific Meeting in San Diego, California.
Funded by NIH, the $14 million GAIT study is the largest placebo controlled, double blind, clinical trial ever conducted to test the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin. All 1,258 patients who completed the study were over the age of 40 with knee pain and randomly assigned placebo; glucosamine 1500 mg; chondroitin 1200mg; glucosamine/chondroitin at above mentioned doses; or Celecoxib (Celebrex) 200 mg daily for 6 months. The abstract published each treatment group's response rate to pain. Of particular note, the group taking the glucosamine/chondroitin combination experienced greater relief for the treatment of moderate to severe knee pain than the Celebrex group.
GAIT was designed to test the safety and efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin alone and in combination in reducing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis. The study's abstract concluded that when taken together, "glucosamine and chondroitin is effective in treating moderate to severe knee pain due to OA [osteoarthritis]."
Naturally occurring in the body, glucosamine stimulates the production of cartilage, the connective tissue which cushions joints. Chondroitin is also naturally occurring in the body and like glucosamine stimulates the production of cartilage. Previous research has indicated that glucosamine is just as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in reducing osteoarthritis pain and has fewer gastrointestinal side effects than NSAIDs.
After extensively researching treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, a natural non-prescription treatment that seems to be gaining a lot of attention recently is a nutraceutical product called Flexcerin. This arthritis supplement contains all of the natural arthritis relieving nutrients, including glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and other special ingredients to help reduce inflammation, swelling and stiffness as well as protect the joints and provide long lasting pain relief. World renowned arthritis speCialist, Dr. Andrew Weil MD., states "Supplements such as glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate may actually help restore damaged tissue structure in joints, perhaps because these two substances are natural constituents of healthy cartilage." Flexcerin could definitely provide relief from your painful arthritis. Widely used in Europe for years to treat osteoarthritis, glucosamine and chondroitin are safe and effective nutritional supplements, as proven by the GAIT abstract.
Whether you are interested in all things "natural," want to avoid side effects from prescription drugs, or want to leave no stone unturned in your quest for relief from arthritis pain you should realize that leaving yourself open to waiting for a viable option could prove to be a very unwise choice. Arthritis causes the most damage in the first six months if left untreated.
Janet Hanh is a published author in the field of pain management. Many of her insightful health related articles can be found online at http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com
