Glucosamine may help lower risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.
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| Glucosamine may help lower risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. |
A popular and widely used dietary supplement for joint pain could also be beneficial for your heart.
According to new research Trusted Source published in The BMJ, habitual use of the supplement glucosamine
was found to be associated with a significantly lower risk of
cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its more severe consequences like
stroke.
However, researchers point out that despite this
association, their work doesn’t establish a causal link between
glucosamine and better CVD outcomes.
“Our study suggests a
potential new beneficial effect of glucosamine on cardiovascular health.
The practical implication would be upon further evidence from future
studies, such as clinical trials, that verify such effects as causal,”
said Dr. Lu Qi, a professor in the department of epidemiology at Tulane University and one of the study’s authors.
Nonetheless, the data from the study is robust.
Glucosamine and a potentially healthier heart?
Using
national health resources in the United Kingdom, Qi and his colleagues
looked at results of nearly a half-million people. Individuals reported
supplement use and were followed, in some cases, up to 10 years. During
that time any events related to CVD were recorded.
None of the study participants had CVD at the start of the study.
During
the follow-up time, those who reported using glucosamine had a 15
percent lower overall risk of CVD events. It was further associated with
a 9 to 22 percent lower risk of CVD death, coronary heart disease, and
stroke, compared to nonusers.
Other experts say that the results
look promising, but more work needs to be done to establish a mechanism
for glucosamine’s potential benefits for heart health.
“The event
reduction effects attributed to glucosamine will need to be proven in a
randomized control study looking at a specific dose, specific
formulation, and regimen,” said Dr. Guy L. Mintz,
director of cardiovascular health and lipidology at Sandra Atlas Bass
Heart Hospital in Manhasset, New York. “I think this is a promising
first step in looking for another tool to reduce cardiovascular events.”
Mintz wasn’t affiliated with the study.
This isn’t the first study to take note of glucosamine’s beneficial relationship with CVD.
Its results are in line with an Australian study from 2012 Trusted Source
of 266,848 adults 45 years and older. Researchers found a negative
association between taking glucosamine, heart disease, and other
cardiovascular conditions.
The authors of that study noted that this “revealing” finding warranted further investigation.
What is glucosamine doing?
What is glucosamine doing?
Still,
there remains a large unknown: If glucosamine is in fact protective for
the heart (and that’s still a big if), how does it work?
The answer just isn’t clear.
“The data on mechanisms are limited. Currently we know little about how glucosamine may affect cardiovascular health,” said Qi.
But, as Qi points out in the study, there are some theories.
Inflammation is common among heart disease and stroke patients, and it’s believed to play a role in cardiovascular disease. Glucosamine appears to have anti-inflammatory properties, which could therefore be preventive.
“The
mechanism of this benefit is unknown, but certainly the
anti-inflammatory effects of glucosamine could be important and account
for these thought-provoking findings,” said Mintz.
Another theory
is that glucosamine supplementation may mimic certain biological effects
of a low-carbohydrate diet that help lower risk of CVD.
Qi and his colleagues point out a 2014 animal study Trusted Source that found glucosamine extended the life span of aging mice as possible evidence of this.
Clinical trials would be a necessary next step to better understand whether glucosamine really benefits heart health.
Glucosamine
is a naturally occurring substance found within the body that’s
recognized for its role in maintaining the cartilage between joints.
It’s
generally safe for most people at a dosage of 1,500 milligrams per day.
However, it can cause some adverse reactions, including nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Individuals with shellfish allergies and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t take glucosamine.
Despite its popularity for the treatment of osteoarthritis, glucosamine remains somewhat controversial, as evidence of its effectiveness is mixed.
he bottom line
he bottom line
Glucosamine,
a popular dietary supplement for arthritis and joint pain, could also
be beneficial for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
New research that
included nearly a half-million participants found that habitually taking
glucosamine was associated with 15 percent lower overall risk of CVD
events, compared to nonusers.
It was further associated with a 9
to 22 percent lower risk of CVD death, coronary heart disease, and
stroke, compared to nonusers.
Researchers say there’s not enough evidence to support a causal link between glucosamine supplementation and lower CVD risk.
Glucosamine
is widely available in the United States. Its effectiveness in treating
arthritis and joint pain remains unclear, despite its popularity.
