A popular natural remedy made from crab shells could not be directly linked to the death of a man from liver failure, a sheriff has ruled.

A popular natural remedy made from crab shells could not be directly linked to the death of a man from liver failure, a sheriff has ruled.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher has ruled that there was no evidence to link Norman Ferrie's death to the glucosamine treatment he was taking.

Mr Ferrie's family had told an inquiry that the sudden deterioration in his health and his death came after he started using glucosamine.

The treatment - made from crab, lobster and shrimp shells - is commonly used to treat painful joints and arthritis related conditions.

A fatal accident inquiry at Perth Sheriff Court heard claims that a number of patients had suffered liver failure after taking the remedy.

Mr Ferrie's sister, Elaine Ferrie, described how her "strong and healthy" brother's health rapidly declined after starting the treatment in 2004.

Mr Ferrie, 64, from Invergowrie, near Dundee, was taken into hospital with acute liver failure and died at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on July 3, 2004.

His own doctor gave evidence at the inquiry to suggest the liver problems may have been linked to the ingestion of glucosamine.

Dr John Dillon, 44, 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, Sheriff Fletcher said that on the basis of the evidence presented, he could not rule that taking the remedy had caused Mr Ferrie's death.

David Carter, of the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, said glucosamine was a £50m annual business in the UK.