Safety of glucosamine, examined on ants as models

Arthritis is one of the most spread illnesses and is treated using essentially glucosamine. Since some years, the efficiency and even the safety of this drug is debated. Indeed, a placebo has often an effect similar to that of glucosamine, and in some cases, this drug appeared to induce cells’ death. In the present work, we examined the ethological and physiological effects of glucosamine using ants as models. No severe adverse effect was found: the ants’ sensitive perception, social relationship, cognition, learning and memory were not impacted by glucosamine consumption. Moreover, this drug leaded to no dependence, and its effect slowly vanished in about 14hours after weaning. Glucosamine only increased the ants’ activity and locomotion. Body movements are known as being beneficial to patients suffering from arthritis. Therefore, we cautiously hypothesize that one potential beneficial effect of glucosamine may result from an increase of activity and locomotion it induces.