A recent study concluded that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were no more effective at slowing cartilage loss in arthritis than sugar pills. The results of various studies regarding the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroiton sulfate have been debated for years, but it now appears that the debate is over. The study, funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, confirms the findings of other studies showing glucosamine and chondroiton sulfate have little or no effect in stabilizing or preventing cartilage loss. Dr. Jolanda Cibere, Rheumatologist and osteoarthritis investigator at the Arthritis Research Center of Canada, also recently completed a six month double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation on the effectiveness of glucosamine concluding there was no benefit for joint health maintenance.