In a recent study published in Journal of Glaucoma, researchers assessed the relationship between glucosamine and the development of glaucoma.
Give me some background first.
Glucosamine is one of the most popular treatments for the degenerative joint disease osteoarthritis (OA). While there have been questions as to its overall efficacy, it remains common in many regimens.
It is considered safe in all populations and is taken in supplement form.
Go on…
A connection between glucosamine and intraocular pressure (IOP) was previously determined in a small retrospective study.
Despite other studies that followed—which provided mixed results—researchers sought to investigate this potential relationship further.
Bringing us to this study?
In this study investigators collected data from three databases including MedWatch, UK Biobank (UKBB), and FinnGen.
Let’s start with UK Biobank.
The UK Biobank (UKBB) is a prospective observational study that consisted of around 500,000 people from Great Britain (ages 40-69). These participants were observed for health events from 2006-2010.
Tell me more.
The UKBB measured IOP through the use of ORA (Reichert Corp.), with comparisons made between participants who used and did not use glucosamine. Analysis was also performed on glaucoma diagnosis.
Now MedWatch.
MedWatch is the system by which the FDA collects data about adverse events associated with medical products.
The researchers used this online database to track glucosamine and the adverse event “glaucoma,” along with the rates of the disease when using this drug compared to other medications.
What about FinnGen?
FinnGen is an electronic health register that aims to improve health by collecting various medical data in a national biobank of over 500,000 people in Finland.
The researchers utilized categorization codes to evaluate FinnGen’s cases of glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), as well as how glucosamine intake could affect the disease’s development.
Findings?
In all UKBB subjects, they determined that IOP levels were higher in those patients who used glucosamine versus nonusers.
Surprisingly, in participants with glaucoma, the researchers did not observe a significant relationship between glucosamine and IOP.
What about MedWatch and FinnGen?
Analysis from MedWatch data displayed that patients who took either glucosamine, budesonide, or fluticasone all had significantly higher rates of glaucoma than any other medications.
From FinnGen’s data, the researchers determined that patients who used glucosamine had a significantly higher risk of both glaucoma and POAG.
Overall?
The researchers posit that these studies suggest a relationship between glucosamine and IOP—the main risk factor for glaucoma.
They also determined that data from all three databases displayed a key increase in glaucoma risk associated with glucosamine use.
Take home.
Further studies are warranted to confirm the relationship investigated here.
However, the authors maintained that until the contributory possibility of glucosamine is resolved, it’s important to consider.
Conclusion.
Per the study authors, “It may be prudent for ophthalmologists to specifically inquire about glucosamine use by their patients and consider counseling patients to discontinue glucosamine where appropriate.”