Essentially all NF-kB inhibitors, even the relatively ineffective NF-kB inhibitor glucosamine, may be of benefit in the treatment of diverse conditions associated with inflammation – including inflammatory bowel disease.
Glucosamine, which was originally combined with chondroitin sulfate in preparations for the treatment of osteoarthritis, was originally believed to act primarily by “re-building cartilage” and “providing nutrition” to the joint.
It is now recognized, however, that glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory agent – a weak NF-kB inhibitor.
As such, glucosamine will do what NF-kB inhibitors do – it will treat inflammation and may therefore find application in any number of inflammation related conditions.
In the study summarized here, the effects of glucosamine in the treatment of a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease are investigated and found to be promising.
However, it is this author’s opinion that glucosamine will never find practical application in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s.) It is simply not a potent enough inhibitor of NF-kB and would require administration in amounts far too great to be practical.
Furthermore, there are much more effective, faster-acting NF-kB inhibitors readily available.
Nonetheless, this study serves as a useful demonstration of the safety and efficacy of NF-kB inhibitors – in this case when used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.