Who uses glucosamine and why? A study of 266,848 Australians aged 45 years and older

Sibbritt, D; Adams, J; Lui, CW; Broom, A; Wardle, J

Who uses glucosamine and why? A study of 266,848 Australians aged 45 years and older

Sibbritt, D

Adams, J

Lui, CW Broom, A

Wardle, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: PLoS ONE, 2012, 7 (7)
Issue Date:: 2012-07-30

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lui, CW	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Broom, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1258-1140	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wardle, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8813-3542	en_US
dc.date.available	2012-06-22	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-07-30	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	PLoS ONE, 2012, 7 (7)	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18209
dc.description.abstract	Objectives: There has been a dramatic increase in the use of complementary medicines over recent decades. Glucosamine is one of the most commonly used complementary medicines in Western societies. An understanding of glucosamine consumption is of significance for public health and future health promotion. This paper, drawing upon the largest dataset to date with regards to glucosamine use (n = 266,844), examines the use and users of glucosamine amongst a sample of older Australians. Design: Analysis of the self-reported data on use of glucosamine, demographics and health status as extracted from the dataset of the 45 and Up Study, which is the largest study of healthy ageing ever undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere involving over 265,000 participants aged 45 and over. Results: Analysis reveals that 58,630 (22.0%) participants reported using glucosamine in the 4 weeks prior to the survey. Use was higher for those who were female, non-smokers, residing in inner/outer regional areas, with higher income and private health insurance. Of all the health conditions examined only osteoarthritis was positively associated with use of glucosamine, while cancer, heart attack or angina and other heart disease were all negatively associated with glucosamine use. Conclusions: This study suggests that a considerable proportion of the Australia population aged 45 and over consume glucosamine. There is a need for health care practitioners to enquire with their patients about their use of glucosamine and for further attention to be directed to providing good quality information for patients and providers with regards to glucosamine products. © 2012 Sibbritt et al.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	PLoS ONE	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1371/journal.pone.0041540	en_US
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Glucosamine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Surveys	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Logistic Models	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Dietary Supplements	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Self Report	en_US
dc.title	Who uses glucosamine and why? A study of 266,848 Australians aged 45 years and older	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	7	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	7	en_US

Abstract:

Objectives: There has been a dramatic increase in the use of complementary medicines over recent decades. Glucosamine is one of the most commonly used complementary medicines in Western societies. An understanding of glucosamine consumption is of significance for public health and future health promotion. This paper, drawing upon the largest dataset to date with regards to glucosamine use (n = 266,844), examines the use and users of glucosamine amongst a sample of older Australians. Design: Analysis of the self-reported data on use of glucosamine, demographics and health status as extracted from the dataset of the 45 and Up Study, which is the largest study of healthy ageing ever undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere involving over 265,000 participants aged 45 and over. Results: Analysis reveals that 58,630 (22.0%) participants reported using glucosamine in the 4 weeks prior to the survey. Use was higher for those who were female, non-smokers, residing in inner/outer regional areas, with higher income and private health insurance. Of all the health conditions examined only osteoarthritis was positively associated with use of glucosamine, while cancer, heart attack or angina and other heart disease were all negatively associated with glucosamine use. Conclusions: This study suggests that a considerable proportion of the Australia population aged 45 and over consume glucosamine. There is a need for health care practitioners to enquire with their patients about their use of glucosamine and for further attention to be directed to providing good quality information for patients and providers with regards to glucosamine products. © 2012 Sibbritt et al.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18209