Liquid Glucosamine benefit, is it better than oral pills as a treatment for joint pain due to degenerative arthritis?

Glucosamine supplements have been available orally for a number of years as oral capsules. Some companies make glucosamine in liquid form. We have not seen any studies comparing oral glucosamine capsules versus liquid ingestion. Both forms of glucosamine are likely to be effective. Glucosamine liquid may be appropriate for those who have difficulty swallowing capsules, such as the elderly or children.

As of March 2010, we have not seen any human studies with the use of glucosamine liquid.

Glucosamine use by athletes
Glucosamine administration in athletes: effects on recovery of acute knee injury.
Res Sports Med. 2007 Apr-Jun;15(2):113-24. Institute of Sports Medicine, Sports Academy, Belgrade, Serbia.
The main aim of this study was to examine the effects of 4 weeks of glucosamine administration on function and pain intensity in competitive male athletes after acute knee injury. This study was a randomized, double-blind parallel trial of glucosamine (1500 mg per day) or a placebo for 28 days, with 106 patients with an acute knee injury. No significant difference was found between the glucosamine, and placebo group in mean pain intensity scores for resting and walking, and degree of knee swelling at the 7-day, 14-day, 21-day, and 28-day assessment. There was no significant difference between passive knee flexibility at the 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day assessment. After 28 days of treatment the patients from the glucosamine group demonstrated significant improvement in knee flexion and extension as compared with the placebo group.

Glucosamine liquid questions
Q. Does liquid glucosamine powder offer benefit for arthritis more than an oral glucosamine supplement? What about glucosamine chondroitin liquid.
   A. We have not seen any research comparing liquid glucosamine to oral glucosamine pills. We doubt liquid glucosamine offers any advantages except to those who have difficulty swallowing pills. This is also true of glucosamine chondroitin liquid.