title: Physiological effects of oral glucosamine on joint health: current status and consensus on future research priorities.
abstract: The aim of this paper was to provide an overview of the current knowledge and understanding of the potential beneficial physiological effects of glucosamine (GlcN) on joint health. The objective was to reach a consensus on four critical questions and to provide recommendations for future research priorities. To this end, nine scientists from Europe and the United States were selected according to their expertise in this particular field and were invited to participate in the Hohenheim conference held in August 2011. Each expert was asked to address a question that had previously been posed by the chairman of the conference. Based on a systematic review of the literature and the collection of recent data, the experts documented the effects of GlcN on cartilage ageing, metabolic/kinetic and maintenance of joint health as well as reduction of risk of OA development. After extensive debate and discussion the expert panel addressed each question and a general consensus statement was developed, agreeing on the current state-of-the-art and future areas for basic and clinical studies. This paper summarizes the available evidence for beneficial effects of GlcN on joint health and proposes new insight into the design of future clinical trials aimed at identifying beneficial physiological effect of GlcN on joint tissues.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit, University of Liège, Institute of Pathology, Level +5, CHU Sart-Tilman, Liège, 4000, Belgium. yhenrotin@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Henrotin
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herrero-Beaumont
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McAlindon
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mobasheri
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavelka
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schön
authors.forename: Harrie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weinans
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Biesalski
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D032921:Consensus; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005060:Europe; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose; D005944:Glucosamine