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Regular Glucosamine Use May Have Different Roles in the Risk of Site-Specific Cancers: Findings from a Large
Fu-Xiao Li1, Hou-Yu Zhao2, Teng-Fei Lin1
1Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
Summary
Glucosamine supplements show varied effects on cancer risk. While linked to lower lung cancer risk, they increase risks for skin, prostate, and overall cancer in a large UK study.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Nutritional Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Previous research suggested a general anticancer effect of glucosamine supplements.
- This study investigated if glucosamine's potential anticancer effects vary by cancer type.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between regular glucosamine use and the risk of developing specific cancer types.
- To determine if glucosamine's role in cancer development differs across various cancer sites.
Main Methods:
- A large prospective cohort study using UK Biobank data (2006-2021).
- Cox proportional hazards models analyzed associations between glucosamine use and site-specific cancers.
- Subgroup and sensitivity analyses explored interactions and robustness of findings.
Main Results:
- Glucosamine use was associated with increased risk of overall cancer (HR 1.04), skin cancer (HR 1.11), and prostate cancer (HR 1.07).
- A reduced risk of lung cancer was observed with glucosamine use (HR 0.88).
- Significant interactions were found for gender, age, and education regarding overall cancer risk.
Conclusions:
- Regular glucosamine use demonstrated differential associations with cancer development.
- It was linked to a lower risk of lung cancer but a higher risk of skin, prostate, and overall cancer.
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