'No evidence' remedy caused death

About one billion glucosamine tablets are sold worldwide every month

A sheriff has ruled there was no evidence that a man's death was linked to an alternative remedy for arthritis.

Norman Ferrie, 64, from Invergowrie near Dundee, died from liver failure in 2004, a few weeks after starting to take glucosamine for painful joints.

His doctor suspected the supplement may have caused his liver problems because he had seen similar cases.

But following a fatal accident inquiry, Sheriff Michael Fletcher found no evidence the remedy caused his death.

Glucosamine is a compound made from crab, lobster and shrimp shells, which may help reduce friction and pain in the joints.

As many as one billion tablets are sold worldwide every month.

Liver transplant

Mr Ferrie's sister, Elaine, had told Perth Sheriff Court that, apart from his arthritis, her brother had been "strong and healthy" before he started to suffer liver problems.

She said that about three or four weeks after starting to take the supplement he reported feeling unwell.

He said he was very tired and also appeared jaundiced.

When he went to see Dr John Dillon, a consultant at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, he was so ill that the clinician considered a liver transplant.

However, Mr Ferrie died before an operation could be carried out.

He passed away on 3 July 2004, at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.

Dr Dillon said he suspected that glucosamine could be involved because he was aware of two other cases where patients had become ill after taking the supplement.

However, the sheriff said that based on the evidence presented, he could not rule that taking the remedy was the cause of Mr Ferrie's death.