Is Glucosamine Effective?

Glucosamine and chondroitin have been widely promoted for joint health, but large-scale clinical research does not support these claims. Glucosamine is a sugar–amine molecule, whereas Active Again is based on cetylated fatty acids — a completely different mechanism of action.

A major meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal reviewed clinical trials on glucosamine and chondroitin for osteoarthritis. The conclusion: they performed no better than placebo in reducing pain or improving joint function.

This raises an important question: If the evidence is weak, why is glucosamine so popular?

The answer is simple — marketing, not efficacy.

Many joint products claim to “contain clinically proven ingredients,” yet this often means:

  • The ingredient, not the finished product, was tested
  • “Clinically proven” refers to safety, not effectiveness

Active Again, by contrast, has been studied in multiple published, peer-reviewed clinical trials with strong, repeatable results.

You can review the study discussing the ineffectiveness of glucosamine here:

BMJ 2010;341:c4675


How Do I Know If a Product Is Clinically Proven?

The simplest way to verify whether a product has been clinically tested is to ask for the published, peer-reviewed research. If a company cannot provide clinical trials on their actual product, proceed with caution.

Active Again pain cream has undergone multiple clinical trials, published in respected journals such as:

  • The Journal of Rheumatology
  • The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
  • The Journal of Periodontology

Evidence should guide decisions — especially when it comes to pain relief.

How Active Again Differs From Glucosamine

Active Again is formulated with cetylated fatty acids — a clinically studied ingredient with a proven mechanism of action supporting:

  • Joint mobility
  • Range of motion
  • Reduced discomfort
  • Tissue lubrication

Unlike conventional glucosamine:

  • Active Again has peer-reviewed clinical trials
  • The mechanism of action is physiologically measurable
  • Results are observed in both topical and oral applications
  • Benefits occur within days to weeks, not months

This is why so many health professionals choose Active Again as a primary joint-support strategy instead of glucosamine.