Even though glucosamine is widely used as a therapy for lower back pain, a new randomized controlled trial has found little difference between patients taking the popular supplement and those on a placebo. Norwegian researchers randomly split 250 people with chronic lower back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis into two groups: Half received 1,500 mg of glucosamine daily for six months, while a control group got a placebo instead. Pain-related disability was measured using a standard questionnaire, and patients also rated their pain at rest and during activity. After six months and when re-tested after a year, there was no significant difference between the glucosamine group and those getting a placebo.TO LEARN MORE: JAMA, July 7, 2010; abstract at jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/304/1/45
