The outcome of this study was that 50 percent of patients improved overall. So, a better angle to this conclusion may be: “glucosamine as good as placebo – 50 percent relief of pain…” A 50 percent improvement is major. Drugs are often approved based on ten times lesser outcome.
This short study (6 months) made in cooperation with SINTEF, a company with strong medical technology interests, used back pain patients, even though glucosamine’s effect is specifically on cartilage. Glucosamine builds cartilage, and long studies (3 and more years) show a marked difference in knee osteoarthritis.
Back pain has many causes, some of which are not even identified in orthodox medicine. Having such a study where the causes of the back pain is not assessed is simply a poor choice.
Cochrane analysis with two brands of glucosamine concluded that glucosamine worked better than placebo: As a preamble to this analysis, Cochrane states:

“This summary of a Cochrane review presents what we know from research about the effect of glucosamine on osteoarthritis.
People with osteoarthritis who take glucosamine:
- may reduce their pain
- may improve their physical function
- will probably not have side effects”

In TCM back pain is not necessarily caused by spine, bone and cartilage structural deficiencies. In TCM, back pain is often caused by kidney and adrenal weakness. Also, in TCM, kidney health is linked with bone health. Acupuncture was found effective in some cases of back pain. While this is not in itself proof, as acupuncture can be used for pain inhibition, mineral imbalances are aspects of kidney and adrenal function and of spine degeneration as well. Moreover, often back pain has a nerve pain aspect, requiring strong anti-inflammatory measures.

Count on JAMA to publish the negative studies and give them an even more negative twist. Here are some other studies from other journals with their underlined conclusion.

Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Feb;56(2):555-67.
Glucosamine sulfate in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using acetaminophen as a side comparator.
Herrero-Beaumont G, Ivorra JA, Del Carmen Trabado M, Blanco FJ, Benito P, Martín-Mola E, Paulino J, Marenco JL, Porto A, Laffon A, Araújo D, Figueroa M, Branco J.
Rheumatology Department, Fundación Jiménez Díaz-Capio, Madrid, Spain. gherrero@fjd.es
CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with glucosamine sulfate retarded the progression of knee osteoarthritis, possibly determining disease modification.

Posted: 05/17/2010; Int J Clin Pract. 2010;64(6):756-762. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing
Reginster JY, Deroisy R, Rovati LC, Lee RL, Lejeune E, Bruyere O, Giacovelli G, Henrotin Y, Dacre JE, Gossett C.
Bone and Cartilage Metabolism Research Unit (WHO Collaborating Center for Public Aspects of Osteoarticular Disorders), University of Liege, Belgium. jyreginster@ulg.ac.be
Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
INTERPRETATION: The long-term combined structure-modifying and symptom-modifying effects of gluosamine sulphate suggest that it could be a disease modifying agent in osteoarthritis.

Arch Intern Med. 2002 Oct 14;162(18):2113-23.
Glucosamine sulfate use and delay of progression of knee osteoarthritis: a 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
Pavelká K, Gatterová J, Olejarová M, Machacek S, Giacovelli G, Rovati LC.
CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with glucosamine sulfate retarded the progression of knee osteoarthritis, possibly determining disease modification.
PMID: 12374520 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

Cacao in its raw state has almost 110 times more flavonoids than red grapes! The only way to be sure you are getting the kind of chocolate that delivers the health benefits is to look for a manufacturer that has gone the extra step and had their final product certified for it’s ORACfn (antioxidant) and flavonoid content. Manufacturers will do and say anything to convince you their product is healthy. If it isn’t certified, don’t believe them. There is a great article on the difference between “good chocolate” and “bad chocolate” at cocoa101.com.