Glucosamine backed

A Choice article that appeared under the headline "Spotlight on glucosamine" in the May 2008 issue of the magazine was followed by coverage on television current affairs programs and in other media.

"The overall conclusion of the recent Choice article was that research on the efficacy of glucosamine as an osteoarthritis treatment is inconclusive at best, and at a placebo level at worst," said Rob Barnes, general manager of Symbion Consumer.

"We strongly believed the accusations could not be allowed to pass unanswered and so we've taken action to set the record straight for the sake of the many customers who use glucosamine on a daily basis," he said.

Symbion Consumer's ads, which appeared in major metropolitan newspapers across Australia on the weekend of 17-18 May, ran under the heading "Glucosamine - the facts made simple".

Mr Barnes said Symbion Consumer would follow the media campaign up with more detailed information targeted at pharmacy customers to further reinforce its position.

"As we stated in the advertisements, independent research has proved that glucosamine helps maintain the normal structure of cartilage in the joints while a number of clinical trials have also concluded that glucosamine could reduce the risk of osteoarthritis progression by 54 per cent.

"However, perhaps the best comment on the efficacy of glucosamine comes from consumers themselves. The pharmacy market alone for glucosamine is now valued at $48.9 million per annum with 1.6 million bottles having been sold in the last 12 months.

"Every day we receive feedback from consumers who have found that taking glucosamine has given them new freedom of movement and they are obviously voting with their feet," he said.