Glucosamine
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Glucosamine is a dietary supplement with 12 published peer-reviewed studies involving 3,001 participants, researched for Joint Health & Pain Relief, Osteoarthritis Relief, Cartilage Support.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Joint Health & Pain Relief
StrongOsteoarthritis Relief
StrongCartilage Support
StrongResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Joint Health & Pain Relief
To investigate glucosamine sulfate effect on knee OA symptoms compared to placebo and ibuprofen
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate glucosamine sulfate effect on knee OA symptoms compared to placebo and ibuprofen
Dose
1500 mg/day glucosamine sulfate
Participants
202 knee OA patients
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Glucosamine sulfate significantly reduced Lequesne index and pain scores vs placebo; similar efficacy to ibuprofen.
How They Measured It
WOMAC, Lequesne index, VAS pain
To determine the long-term effect of glucosamine sulfate on knee joint space narrowing
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To determine the long-term effect of glucosamine sulfate on knee joint space narrowing
Dose
1500 mg/day glucosamine sulfate
Participants
212 knee OA patients
Duration
3 years
Results
Glucosamine sulfate prevented joint space narrowing over 3 years vs placebo; significant symptom improvement.
How They Measured It
X-ray joint space width, WOMAC
To determine whether glucosamine and chondroitin reduce pain from knee OA
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled (GAIT Trial)
Purpose
To determine whether glucosamine and chondroitin reduce pain from knee OA
Dose
1500 mg/day glucosamine HCl
Participants
1583 knee OA patients
Duration
24 weeks
Results
Combination of glucosamine + chondroitin significantly more effective in subgroup with moderate-to-severe pain (p=0.002).
How They Measured It
WOMAC pain subscale, responder rate (20% pain reduction)
To evaluate glucosamine sulfate efficacy for treating knee OA symptoms over 3 years
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate glucosamine sulfate efficacy for treating knee OA symptoms over 3 years
Dose
1500 mg/day
Participants
318 knee OA patients
Duration
3 years
Results
Significant reduction in symptoms and cartilage loss prevention vs placebo over 3 years.
How They Measured It
WOMAC, Lequesne OA index
Osteoarthritis Relief
To evaluate effectiveness and safety of glucosamine in osteoarthritis
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To evaluate effectiveness and safety of glucosamine in osteoarthritis
Dose
Various
Participants
Multiple RCTs pooled
Duration
Various
Results
Glucosamine sulfate demonstrated statistically significant pain and function benefits vs placebo in most trials.
How They Measured It
Pain reduction, function, WOMAC
To assess glucosamine + chondroitin vs acetaminophen in knee OA pain
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess glucosamine + chondroitin vs acetaminophen in knee OA pain
Dose
1500 mg/day glucosamine sulfate + 1200 mg chondroitin
Participants
164 knee OA patients
Duration
6 months
Results
Glucosamine/chondroitin combination showed superior pain reduction vs acetaminophen and placebo.
How They Measured It
VAS pain scale, WOMAC
To assess glucosamine supplementation for hip OA progression
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess glucosamine supplementation for hip OA progression
Dose
1500 mg/day glucosamine sulfate
Participants
222 hip OA patients
Duration
2 years
Results
Glucosamine significantly improved pain and function in hip OA patients vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Radiographic hip joint space, symptoms
To assess glucosamine effect on exercise-induced cartilage degradation biomarkers
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess glucosamine effect on exercise-induced cartilage degradation biomarkers
Dose
3000 mg/day glucosamine hydrochloride
Participants
46 healthy adults with cartilage damage history
Duration
3 months
Results
Significant reduction in exercise-induced COMP release, indicating cartilage protection vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Serum COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein)
Cartilage Support
To assess glucosamine effect on synovial fluid biomarkers and cartilage health
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess glucosamine effect on synovial fluid biomarkers and cartilage health
Dose
1500 mg/day glucosamine sulfate
Participants
30 OA patients
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Glucosamine significantly increased synovial fluid glycosaminoglycan concentration vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Synovial fluid glycosaminoglycan levels, cartilage markers
To assess effects of glucosamine supplementation on serum cartilage biomarkers in athletes
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled
Purpose
To assess effects of glucosamine supplementation on serum cartilage biomarkers in athletes
Dose
3000 mg/day
Participants
41 athletes
Duration
3 months
Results
Glucosamine significantly attenuated markers of cartilage breakdown vs placebo in active individuals.
How They Measured It
Serum uCTX-II (cartilage degradation marker), COMP
To test effect of topical glucosamine + chondroitin cream on knee OA
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To test effect of topical glucosamine + chondroitin cream on knee OA
Dose
Topical application 4x daily
Participants
63 knee OA patients
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Significant pain reduction with topical glucosamine/chondroitin cream vs placebo (p<0.05).
How They Measured It
VAS pain, Lequesne index
To assess glucosamine on functional outcomes in patients after knee injury
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess glucosamine on functional outcomes in patients after knee injury
Dose
1500 mg/day glucosamine sulfate
Participants
120 knee injury patients
Duration
6 months
Results
Glucosamine significantly improved functional outcomes and preserved cartilage volume vs placebo.
How They Measured It
IKDC subjective knee evaluation, cartilage volume MRI
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Glucosamine research
There are currently 12 peer-reviewed studies on Glucosamine (Glucosamine), involving 3,001 total participants. Research covers Joint health, Osteoarthritis relief, Cartilage support. The overall evidence strength is rated as Very Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Very Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (11 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Glucosamine has been researched for: Joint health, Osteoarthritis relief, Cartilage support. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 11 out of 12 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
