Glucosamine Posts

I have noted quite a number of net resources advocating glucosamine for damaged joints, including osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is basically a sugar molecule with substitutions, and in culture it may be very beneficial to the cartilage cells that make the matrix we walk upon. So glucosamine is a good thing. BUT....there is really no evidence I know of that shows orally administered glucoamine gets to the target; that is the joints. Don't forget, everything we eat must go thru the stomach etc., hopefully wind up in the blood, and then be carried around the body. So supplements do no good unless they get to the target.

Problems with Microfracture

Microfracture as a method of cartilage repair has been much in the news lately.
Some celebrated athletes, including a major player for the Phoenix Suns, have had the procedure with decidely mixed results. Granted, the requirements of a NBA player are substantial, but according to the NY Times 9 out of 13 cases have failed to return to sport. In some cases, a return to athletics was attempte4d within about 6 months, which is far shorter than the originators of the technique have proposed. Nevertheless, there is no clear evidence that microfracture really works in a reliable way.
It would interesting to know of a comparable sample of players who have had cell based therapy, such as Carticel ( ACI).

Cartilage Regeneration

Cartilage Regeneration
MICROFRACTURE FAILING IN ATHLETES