{"entity":{"id":"glucosamine","kind":"technology","name":"Glucosamine and chondroitin","aka":["Glucosamine sulfate","Chondroitin sulfate"],"tldr":"Glucosamine, often with chondroitin, is one of the most used joint supplements. Most trials in osteoarthritis found no benefit and the American College of Rheumatology advises against it. Studies linking it to lower cancer risk are observational and may be biased. It can raise the blood-thinning effect of warfarin and affect blood sugar.","summary":"Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs entry describes glucosamine as mostly studied in osteoarthritis: one large multicentre trial found glucosamine with chondroitin comparable to celecoxib for severe knee pain, but most other studies found no benefit for knee or hip osteoarthritis or back pain, and the American College of Rheumatology conditionally recommends against it, while a European guideline favours a prescription formulation not available in the United States. Glucosamine and chondroitin use has been correlated with lower cancer risk and mortality in observational studies, but MSK notes that bias could not be ruled out and confirmatory studies are needed; there is no trial evidence for any anticancer effect. For aromatase-inhibitor joint pain, acupuncture and exercise have better evidence. Safety: generally well tolerated, but glucosamine may potentiate warfarin and raise INR, inhibit platelet aggregation, worsen insulin resistance, raise intraocular pressure (shown in a randomised trial in older people) and cause liver injury in people with liver disease; it has been associated with higher cardiovascular risk in osteoarthritis. People allergic to shellfish should check the source.","status":"phase-2","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"MSK About Herbs: Glucosamine (page last updated 30 September 2026)","url":"https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/glucosamine"}],"tags":["complementary","supportive-care","evidence:insufficient"],"related":["boswellia","bromelain"],"cancers":[],"sections":["supportive-care"],"technologies":["integrative-oncology","dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions","acupuncture-aromatase-inhibitor-arthralgia","exercise-oncology"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":["b-misinformation"],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"A building block of cartilage glycosaminoglycans; oral supplements were expected to support cartilage repair, which trials have mostly not confirmed.","strengths":["Generally well tolerated","One large trial comparable to celecoxib for severe knee pain"],"limitations":["Most osteoarthritis trials negative; ACR advises against","Cancer-risk data are observational only","Warfarin, glucose and eye-pressure effects"]},"route":"/technologies/glucosamine/","neighbours":{"technology":[{"id":"acupuncture-aromatase-inhibitor-arthralgia","kind":"technology","name":"Acupuncture for aromatase-inhibitor joint pain","route":"/technologies/acupuncture-aromatase-inhibitor-arthralgia/"},{"id":"boswellia","kind":"technology","name":"Boswellia (frankincense) extracts","route":"/technologies/boswellia/"},{"id":"bromelain","kind":"technology","name":"Bromelain (pineapple enzyme)","route":"/technologies/bromelain/"},{"id":"dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions","kind":"technology","name":"Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms","route":"/technologies/dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions/"},{"id":"integrative-oncology","kind":"technology","name":"Evidence-based integrative oncology","route":"/technologies/integrative-oncology/"},{"id":"exercise-oncology","kind":"technology","name":"Exercise & lifestyle oncology","route":"/technologies/exercise-oncology/"}],"section":[{"id":"supportive-care","kind":"section","name":"Supportive Care & Survivorship","route":"/fronts/supportive-care/"}],"bottleneck":[{"id":"b-misinformation","kind":"bottleneck","name":"Misinformation and unproven therapies","route":"/bottlenecks/b-misinformation/"}]}}