An article published online on April 21, 2010 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed the discovery of University of Washington School of Public Health and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientists of a lower risk of death from all causes among users of the arthritis supplements chondroitin and glucosamine over an average 5 year follow-up period. While previous research by the team, summarized in the July 24, 2009 issue of Life Extension Update, sought to determine the impact of multivitamins and vitamins C and E on mortality, the current investigation focused on the effect of less common supplements.
The study included 77,673 men and women between the ages of 50 and 76 who resided in western Washington. Dietary supplement use during the 10 years prior to enrollment was documented in questionnaires completed by all participants.
Over an average 5 years of follow-up, 3,577 deaths occurred. While none of the supplements evaluated in the study, which included individual B vitamins, magnesium, fiber and other supplements, were associated with an increased risk of dying over follow-up, adjusted analysis confirmed an association between the use of glucosamine and chondroitin with reduced risk. Glucosamine use that was categorized as low, as determined by infrequent or short duration of use, was associated with an 8 percent lower risk of dying, and high use with a 17 percent lower risk, while low and high use of chondroitin were associated with 12 and 17 percent reductions. A 17 percent lower adjusted risk of mortality was also observed for those whose use of fish oil was categorized as high, however, the researchers did not consider the finding statistically significant.
In their discussion, the authors remark that chondroitin and glucosamine may inhibit nuclear transcription factor kappa-beta (NF-kB) dependent pathways, and that abnormal regulation of NF-kB is associated with cancer and inflammatory diseases. They note that other antiinflammatory agents have been associated with reduced mortality; for example, aspirin use was associated with an 18 percent reduction in deaths in the Iowa Women's study. "Glucosamine and chondroitin may have antiinflammatory properties, and future studies that evaluate risk of death separately for those diseases with and without a chronic inflammatory cause, and with longer durations of follow-up and possibly functional studies, may increase our understanding of any potential benefit of glucosamine- and chondroitin-supplement use," they conclude.
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