Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate combined with bone health exercise can promote bone mineral density and muscle strength in postmenopausal women:a random community trial / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are important compositions of cartilage tissues. Animal experiments have shown that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can treat osteoporosis synergistically, but the effect of their combinations with regular exercise on the bone and joint health of menopausal women is little reported. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of the combination of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and bone health exercises on skeletal and joint health in postmenopausal women by a random community trial. METHODS: From January to June 2016, 206 eligible postmenopausal women were selected from Bishan District of Chongqing and randomly divided into two groups by random digital method. The trial group received glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (3 capsules/day, and bone health exercises (at least 3 times/week), while the control group did not receive special treatment. After 6 months of intervention, the bone mineral density, muscle strength of habitual knee, incidence of fracture, osteoarthritis and fall, and levels of symptom and function were compared between the two groups. The peak torque of extension and flexion of habitual knee at 0 and 60 (°) /s angular velocity was detected using Isomed 2000 Dynamometer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The bone mineral density and the peak torque of extension and flexion of habitual knee at 0 and 60 (°) /s angular velocity in the trial group were significantly higher than those in the control group at 6 months after treatment (P ＜ 0.05). (2) The incidence of fall in the trail group was lower than that in the control group at 6 months (17.00％ vs. 5.94％, P ＜ 0.05). The incidence of fracture and osteoarthritis had no significant difference between two groups (P＞ 0.05). (3) The self-ranking of joint pain, holding power of muscle, walking distance and joint stiff had significant differences between two groups (P ＜ 0.05). (4) These results indicate that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements combined with regular bone health exercises can improve bone mineral density and muscle strength, and prevent joint pain and stiff in postmenopausal women to some extent, thus preventing fall, fracture and osteoarthritis of postmenopausal women.