Joint health: What degree of evidence is necessary to support health claims for food supplements, taking glucosamine as an example?

Arthropathies present a major challenge for the public health system, both in terms of epidemiology and health economics, particularly against the background of demographic changes in the Western world. Much attention must be paid to prevention, because of the limited options and high technical and financial expenditure with respect to treatment. Among other factors, nutrition plays an important role. However, many and various unsolved questions must be answered before health claims for food constituents in the field of joint health can be established for use as consumer information, as will be described taking glucosamine as an example. These questions will be discussed and possible alternatives to conventional practice considered.