You’ve seen them in the health food store. Maybe you’ve even bought them. Osteo Bi-Flex, Elations Healthier Joints, Trimedica MSM with Glucosamine—they all taunt you with the promise of healthier joints, pain-free joints.
Well, I hate to break it you: they don’t work.
A breakdown of 10 studies found that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for joint pain are, well, bogus.
Generating $2 billion in 2008, the supplements are most popular with people who suffer arthritic knees or hips. Researchers found that people taking the supplements did not experience differences from those taking a placebo when it came to measures of pain or changes in joint space.
The pills are safe though. Scientists note that the reason behind people feeling better while taking them could be placebo effect of simply the natural healing of joints.
Authors of the study stated: "We see no harm in having patients continue these preparations as long as they perceive a benefit and cover the costs of treatment themselves"
More than 40 million people in the United States suffer some form of arthritis, many with chronic pain that limits daily activity.
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