In a recent study from West Virginia University, researchers found that glucosamine supplements may reduce overall mortality as well as regular exercise does.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. One author is Dana King.
Glucosamine sulfate is a naturally occurring chemical found in the human body. It is in the fluid that is around joints. Glucosamine is also found in other places in nature.
Glucosamine may provide some pain relief for people with osteoarthritis.
The supplements appear to be safe and might be helpful for people who can’t take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief.
In the study, the team analyzed data from 16,686 adults who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2010.
All of the participants were at least 40 years old. King and Xiang merged these data with 2015 mortality figures.
After controlling for various factors, the researchers found that taking glucosamine/chondroitin every day for a year or longer was linked to a 39% reduction in mortality.
It was also linked to a 65% reduction in heart-related deaths. That’s a category that includes deaths from stroke, coronary artery disease and heart disease, the United States’ biggest killer.
One author himself takes glucosamine/chondroitin, one of the most common formulations of glucosamine supplements.
The team says people still need to keep exercising, but the thought that taking a pill would also be beneficial is intriguing.
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