GLUCOSAMINE COMBINED WITH OMEGA-3 IMPROVES JOINT HEALTH
A new study conducted in Germany has established that the combination of glucosamine sulphate and omega-3 fatty acids achieves better improvements in joint health that glucosamine alone. Lead author of the trial, Dr Joerg Gruenwald, and his co-workers recruited 177 people with moderate-to-severe hip or knee osteoarthritis and randomly assigned them to receive either a glucosamine sulfate supplement (1500 milligrams per day) or glucosamine plus omega-3 fatty acids (providing 444 mg of fish oil, of which 200 mg were omega-3-fatty acids). After 26 weeks of supplementation, the researchers tested pain levels using the established Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthrosis index (WOMAC) score. Results revealed that the combination product reduced morning stiffness and pain in the hips and knees by between 48.5 and 55.6 per cent, compared to 41.7 to 55.3 per cent in the glucosamine only group. The study authors state that the ingredients probably act synergistically with omega-3 fatty acids inhibiting inflammation and glucosamine rebuilding lost cartilage. The study was published in the journal Advances in Therapy.