Glucosamine use in pregnancy: an evaluation of pregnancy outcome

Glucosamine (GLS) is an endogenous aminomonosaccharide. It is used as a disease-modifying agent for the treatment of osteoarthritis. There is no information regarding its use in pregnancy. Our objective was to determine whether GLS treatment in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of major malformations or other adverse outcomes.

Pregnant women were recruited from The Motherisk Program at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. Women exposed to GLS were compared with women exposed to nonteratogenic agents. They were matched for gestational age at time of call, maternal age, and cigarette and alcohol consumption. Rates of major malformations and other end points of interest were compared between the two groups.

We were able to ascertain the outcomes of 54 women who used GLS during pregnancy (34 during organogenesis). There were 50 live births (two sets of twins), 4 spontaneous abortions, 1 therapeutic abortion, and 1 stillbirth, with no major malformations. The mean birth weight was 3524 +/- 482 g, and the median gestational age at birth was 39 weeks (range 37-40).

These limited data suggest no increased risk for major malformations or other adverse fetal effects following the use of GLS during pregnancy.