I have been using glucosamine sulfate with chondroitin sulfate for the past 9 months. Results (re: sports induced knee imflammation reduction/elimination ) have been exceptional. I had my cholesterol checked last week as part of a routine physical and it was 259, up from 215. The only dietary changes I have made during this time are (via suggestions from your book) to up Vitamin C to 4 to 6 grams per day and have slightly reduced dietary fat intake.
The increased cholesterol level is confusing to me. Is it possible for the glucosamine to effect cholesterol levels, or to produce a false effect on the cholesterol test?
Follow Ups:
Re: glucosamine and cholesterol
Posted by trish on January 27, 1999 at 16:20:05:
In Reply to: glucosamine and cholesterol posted by Jeff on January 27, 1999 at 11:56:13:
I'm no expert, but have you cut way back on your physical activities because of the knee injury? I am under the impression that exercise helps to keep cholesterol under control so maybe that has something to do with it.
Or, maybe it's time for you to try one of the metabolic diets!!! :-)
good luck!
trish
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Re: glucosamine and cholesterol
Posted by jeff on January 28, 1999 at 10:04:09:
In Reply to: Re: glucosamine and cholesterol posted by trish on January 27, 1999 at 16:20:05:
The Knee injuries were 22 years ago (left knee; torn acl) and 18 years ago (right knee; cartilidge). Prior, I have had both knees surgically attended to (removal of cartilidge). For the past 15 or so years, I have weight trained with strong emphasis on quads.
Getting back to now. For the past 6 months, I have been lowering dietary fat, increasing aerobic training (now 3 to 5 hours per week where it used to be 1 to 2 hours per week); increasing vitamin C and E, along with chromium picolinate and have added the glucosimane/controitin complex.
I consider the glucosimine the enabling factor to my ability to increase aerobic training (knee inflammation is gone for the first time in 22 years!)
As I have mentioned, a recent physical shows all to be good with the exception of a blood cholesterol increase of 40+ points (215 to 259). This seems contradictary to me as I am allegedly doing things to reduce it.
I ask the question about the connection of the glucosamine and increased cholesterol levels as I am familiar with others asking the same question and having the same problem (The Graedons Peoples Pharmacy, Orlando Sentinel 1/26/98 article). Apparently there are questions as to the glucosamine being the cause of increased cholesterol or simply interfereing with the test.
Anyone have any ideas or places to look into here???
Follow Ups:
Re: glucosamine and cholesterol
Posted by Robert McFerran on January 28, 1999 at 10:47:11:
In Reply to: Re: glucosamine and cholesterol posted by jeff on January 28, 1999 at 10:04:09:
Jeff,
How many hours can you go without eating anything after eating breakfast?
If you drink coffee have you ever noticed that it can make you jittery if you drink more than a couple of cups without food?
Bob
Follow Ups:
Re: glucosamine and cholesterol
Posted by Walt Stoll on January 28, 1999 at 13:57:37:
In Reply to: glucosamine and cholesterol posted by Jeff on January 27, 1999 at 11:56:13:
Hi, Jeff.
I would be interested in hearing about the cholesterol test being interfered with by taking glucosamine. Any research I can find about that?
If I had knees like yours, I would avoid weight bearing exercises like the plague. The underwater exercises all indoor public pools now have would be what I would do.
Glucosamine can work so well as to give a false sense of
confidence.
By the way, the essential oils, mentioned in the article by that name on the homepage of this 'site, would do your cholesterol more good than the other stuff you are taking (which will help you in other ways.
Walt
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MSM (great results)false sense of security????
Posted by NAN27 on January 28, 1999 at 20:40:32:
In Reply to: Re: glucosamine and cholesterol posted by Walt Stoll on January 28, 1999 at 13:57:37:
I have had terrific results taking MSM for my knees. I cannot do the tread mill without it. Now I wonder if I am making them worse in the long run???????????
Nancy in Virginia
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Re: glucosamine and cholesterol
Posted by Frank C on January 28, 1999 at 22:54:05:
In Reply to: Re: glucosamine and cholesterol posted by Robert McFerran on January 28, 1999 at 10:47:11:
Jeff- I too have experienced a rise in my cholesterol number since I started taking the glucosamine and condroitin pills to enable me to increase exercise. I haven't found anything on the net yet to substantiate this phenomena but I will keep looking. If anyone in Dr. Stoll's audience has any definitive word on this subject, I would be very appreciative of a response. Thank you.
Re: glucosamine and cholesterol and knees
Posted by Jeff on January 29, 1999 at 11:00:14:
In Reply to: Re: glucosamine and cholesterol posted by Walt Stoll on January 28, 1999 at 13:57:37:
Hi Dr. Stoll
I have scoured the internet for info on the subject of cholesterol increase w/glucosamine. Have found nothing. I will start my own study with all of my friends and family taking glucosamine. This obviously will take time. If I get results with statistical significance, I will summarize them and post them on your BB.
ANY BB VISITORS WANT TO PARTICIPATE?? please respond to my email link.
On the other subject of my knees. I suppose ignorance is bliss. Since my multiple knee injuries some years past, I have eliminated racquetball, basketball and moguls from my athletic diet. However I don't seem to have difficulties with mountain biking, and have added running after taking the glucosamine. I haven't visited an orthopedist in 20 years. Perhaps I might check one out and get an opinion.
Alternatively, do you (or the BB visitors) know of useful therapies for people with knee damage (torn anterior cruciate) outside of surgical knee reconstruction?
Jeff Bush
Follow Ups:
Re: MSM (great results)false sense of security????
Posted by Walt Stoll on January 29, 1999 at 14:42:54:
In Reply to: MSM (great results)false sense of security???? posted by NAN27 on January 28, 1999 at 20:40:32:
Hi, Nan27.
Eventually, the MSM will not stop the pain if you continue to use weight bearing exercises. THEN, what will you do?
ANYONE with knee wearing problems needs to do the under water exercises now available in nearly every community.
Walt
Re: glucosamine and cholesterol and knees
Posted by Walt Stoll on January 30, 1999 at 11:10:53:
In Reply to: Re: glucosamine and cholesterol and knees posted by Jeff on January 29, 1999 at 11:00:14:
Thanks, Jeff.
I really apreciate your efforts!
My concern is that the glucosamine has given you a false sense of security and that the day will come soon when the causes will come up and bite you on the butt.
If it were me, until a couple of years after giving up the weight-bearing execises (fun as they are) I would only do stretching, under water exercises--regularly --, and, perhaps most importantly the regular practice of SR. THEN, I would start the most innocuous of the weight bearing exercises and see how I did. The chances are that, once your surfaces have repaired themselves, AND you have eliminated the chronic bracing that tends to cause stuff like this, you will be as good as new.
In the meantime, posting your question about immediate options for knees under a title that includes Doc Dave's name would give you another structural option for getting started.
Let us know how you do.
Walt
Re: glucosamine and cholesterol and knees
Posted by wendy on January 31, 1999 at 01:28:31:
In Reply to: Re: glucosamine and cholesterol and knees posted by Jeff on January 29, 1999 at 11:00:14:
Jeff I have sent you an email re this