A recent warning by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) states that diabetics, pregnant women, children, and those with certain food allergies should stop taking joint health supplements containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate due to a risk of adverse events.

This statement comes as a result of an expert assessment on the adverse reactions potentially associated with the consumption of dietary supplements containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate being identified under ANSES nutriavigilance scheme.

ANSES recommends manufacturers to better inform consumers about the risks associated with the consumption of these food supplements by these specific populations as well as to report to the nutrivigilance scheme any adverse reactions likely to be related to the consumption of these food supplements.

Furthermore, ANSES considers it necessary that the maximum authorized daily doses of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in food supplements be standardized at European level based on safety data from robust safety studies – currently lacking – for these two compounds.