Glucosamine Articles

Simply put, glucosamine is an amino sugar compound formed from glucose, a simple sugar, and glutamine, an amino acid.

It is a necessary component for the production of glucosaminoglycan, an interstitial fluid responsible for forming and repairing cartilage and maintaining cellular collagen and elastin.

Glucosamine is naturally produced in the body, but it is also available at many health stores in the form of a supplement.

What Can Glucosamine Help?

Glucosamine supplements are thought to alleviate a variety of ailments including chronic venous insufficiency, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and a variety of skin conditions.

Glucosamine & chondroitin sulfate are often taken in combination for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Chondroitin sulfate is naturally found in cartilage. Its supplements can be lab-created or come from natural cartilage sources. Cartilage is a rubbery material that binds and cushions joints.

Osteoarthritis is the result of cartilage becoming stiff and losing its elasticity. This causes discomfort, pain, swelling, and decreased mobility and leaves the affected joint or joints prone to further damage and deterioration.

How Can Glucosamine Help

There is some evidence that glucosamine supplements in conjunction with chondroitin sulfate may curb the pain and other symptoms of knee osteoarthritis and hopefully slow its progression.

The idea is that increasing the supply of glucosamine in the body will assist in repairing cartilage damage and hindering any further decline.

In studies, the combined efforts of both glucosamine and chondroitin have shown more promise than one or the other alone, but the extent of their effectiveness is still inconclusive.

Either alone or in combination, glucosamine & chondroitin are found to be safe and cause very few adverse side effects.

The possible side effects, namely digestive complaints, drowsiness, headaches, and sleeplessness, are usually mild and only temporary.

Since either supplement may come from shellfish, it is important for those with shellfish allergies to first confirm that a chosen supplement is derived from a non-shellfish basis.

It is also important for those with diabetes or any other insulin-related illness to first check with a doctor before taking these supplements as some studies suggest that glucosamine may affect blood sugar, hemoglobin, and insulin levels.

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Who Should be Using Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is a compound formed naturally in the cartilage.

It is made from amino acid glutamine and glucose and is necessary for producing glycosaminoglycan, a molecule that is essential for the repair and formation of the cartilage and other tissues in the body. Glucosamine production gradually slows, as a person gets older.

Glucosamine is available in chemists and health food stores as a nutritional supplement. Traces can also be found in cosmetics and sports drinks.

Glucosamine to Aid Common Ailments

Osteoarthritis – Several studies have proven that glucosamine is beneficial for treating osteoarthritis in various joints in the body. These benefits included improved joint function, anti-inflammatory effects, and pain relief. Although there have been promising results, more research needs to be done before conclusive evidence can be presented.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Early stages of research suggest using glucosamine for treating swelling and joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. While it did not show anti-rheumatic effects in some tests, it did make the symptoms more manageable.

Glucosamine Dosage

For most conditions, 500 glucosamine sulfate milligrams should be taken in capsule or tablet form 3 times a day for 1 to 3 months. A daily dosage of 1.5 grams can also be prescribed. Some publications have recommended a dosage of 20 milligrams for every kilo of body weight.

Some types of glucosamine can be applied as a topical cream over a one month period. However, the effectiveness and safety of this formulation has not been scientifically proven. Children should also avoid this compound because there is insufficient evidence on its safety. Some research has shown that there is a relationship between this supplement and autism.

It should also be noted that glucosamine supplements often come from crab, shrimp, or other shellfish. As a result, people with iodine hypersensitivity or shellfish allergies may have a negative reaction to these products.

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Does Glucosamine Really Work?

The intake of glucosamine is found to have benefits for osteoarthritis sufferers. It does not only dull the pain caused by the medical condition, but it can also improve joint structure.

Glucosamine & Chondrotin are usually used together as joint supplements to help alleviate the pain caused by osteoarthritis. Since the substance is a natural product, it can be taken in large quantities and still be completely safe. Here are some of the most important benefits of taking in the supplement.

Glucosamine Promotes Healthy Joints

The substance is a natural amino sugar that is needed for the production of cartilage and connective tissue. The construction of protective tissues such as proteoglycans relies heavily on this substance. Protective tissues give connective tissues the elasticity and buffering effect needed to prevent joint damage. Hence, taking glucosamine as a supplement promotes the growth of healthy joints.

Treats Osteoarthritis Naturally

The advantage of glucosamine is that it is completely natural and safe to use. It does not contain any toxic ingredients and is beneficial for the joints, ligaments, tendons, and cartilages. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the product does not only help ease the pain caused by the disease, but it also treats the cause of the disease by improving joint structure.

Provides the Body with Needed Glucosamine

Although the body produces the substance naturally, taking in extra quantities is necessary at some point in a person’s life. The body’s need of the substance increases in time due to increased physical activity, damage to the body, the development of joint diseases like arthritis, and other changes that cause wear and tear of joints. Glucosamine is available at major drug stores and can also be bought online. The product must be taken in everyday at a dosage of 1,500 mg each day. Since it is a slow acting, it may take a month for effects to show up.

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Safe Uses of Glucosamine Supplements

Glucosamine & Joints: Moveable joints are complex structures that consist of many different parts. When healthy, they grant us the mobility and strength to move our bodies with ease.

The component that is primarily affected in osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is cartilage. Articular cartilage protects the ends of the bones that move against each other thus reducing friction. It also provides an innate “suspension” for weight-bearing joints to protect the bones from shearing forces.

Loss of articular cartilage is inherent in osteoarthritis. This leaves the underlying bone unprotected and subject to wear and tear from friction and the constant load of the body, particularly in the knees and hips. Another common site for cartilage degeneration is the joints of the hands.

Healthy cartilage has a complex structure. Of its components, proteogylcans give cartilage its firm quality and also act as a pump for the fluid in the joint. They permit enough fluid to be released into the joint whilst bearing weight to provide lubrication for the joint. The proteoglycans then draw the fluid back into the cartilage when the load is released.

How Glucosamine Works

Glycosaminoglycans are a crucial component of these proteoglycans and glucosamine is essential for producing glycosaminoglycans. Glucosamine is not found in any food source so must be manufactured by the body.

The increasing incidence of osteoarthritis today, particularly in the elderly, reflects the decreasing ability of the body to manufacture glucosamine.

Fortunately, glucosamine  supplements (and with chondroitin) are readily available and are increasing in popularity due to consistent success in easing pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis.

Although cartilage has no blood supply of its own and therefore regenerates slowly, studies have shown that glucosamine supplementation in the form of sulphate and hydrochloride are very well absorbed and travel primarily to the sites needed. These include cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The glucosamine is then used to regenerate the connective tissue in these areas.

Glucosamine Facts

Chondroitin is a naturally occurring source of glycosaminoglycans, molecules essential for the production of proteoglycans. Proteogylcans provide the firm quality of cartilage in our joints. They are also essential for joint lubrication to help protect our joints from the friction of every day movement.

Chondroitin is sourced from cartilage, usually shark or bovine. It is a major component of cartilage, in both the supplemental sources and the cartilage in the human body. Taking chondroitin as a supplement helps provide the body with the building blocks it needs to regenerate cartilage and repair worn joints.

It has also been shown to inhibit an enzyme that breaks down cartilage, thereby exerting a protective effect to help prevent further damage.

Glucosamine Chrondroitin Studies

In a major study undertaken in the U.S., results showed that glucosamine combined with chondroitin provided significant joint pain relief compared with either glucosamine or chondroitin alone. It therefore may be helpful to combine some chondroitin with glucosamine supplementation.

Chondroitin molecules are larger than those of glucosamine and relevant literature suggests they can be more difficult to absorb. Clinical studies reveal however that chondroitin may take 2-4 months to have a positive effect but the benefits are evident and can continue once supplementation has ceased.

For this reason it is important to take chondroitin for the long term to help with joint pain and regeneration.

Glucosamine -Joint Health

Glucosamine occurs naturally in all the joints of the body, as a component of healthy cartilage and synovial fluid. Our bodies use glucose and glutamine, one of the amino acids, to metabolise glucosamine. It is an essential nutrient of various tissues, primarily cartilage, connective tissue and synovial fluid. Joint maintenance, function and repair rely on an adequate glucosamine supply.

Unfortunately, as our bodies age less glucosamine is produced through natural processes and therefore supplementation from outside sources is needed.

Food Sources of Glucosamine

The only effective way to obtain glucosamine from your regular dietary intake is by cooking up a broth using animal cartilage and bone. Traditionally used ingredients for such a broth include chicken marrow, shrimp and crab shells, shark cartilage and beef cartilage.

The amino acid glutamine, needed by our bodies to naturally produce glucosamine, is found in raw parsley and spinach.

Nearly all glucosamine supplements available on the market use glucosamine extracted from shellfish shells. Crab, shrimp and lobster are the main sources.

Effective Forms of Glucosamine Supplement

In order to provide a stable form of glucosamine that won’t deteriorate in tablets or capsules, glucosamine is bound to a stabilising agent, commonly either sulphate or hydrochloride. Glucosamine sulphate or glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) are formed.

It’s difficult to know which of these supplement forms is most effective, as results from studies are unclear. Indications are that effectiveness of one or the other varies according to the individual metabolism. The most conclusive approach is probably by trial and error, i.e. use one form for a few months then replace it with the other form and compare results. Another option is to use a product that contains both forms.

Another form available is a liquid glucosamine supplement. This is more quickly and easily absorbed into the tissues than the tablet or capsule forms. In the liquid form there is no need for a stabiliser, so the glucosamine is not bound to any agent.

There is a vegetarian supplement available, manufactured in vitro using vegetable sources.

What is Chondroitin?

Did you know that our joints need a good supply of glucosamine for optimum strength, structural integrity and ability to absorb shock?

Although glucosamine is produced by our bodies, our capacity to do this diminishes with age.

Supplementation has been shown in some people to give results that allow for a happier life with less pain.

How Glucosamine Supplementation May Benefit Your Health

The damaging effect of injury or wear and tear on our joints and our reduced ability to produce adequate glucosamine to counteract this damage as we age are both indicators for glucosamine supplementation.

Osteoarthritic pain and inflammation has been shown to reduce with therapeutic use of glucosamine. Joint mobility increases and the need for medication to control symptoms is reduced accordingly.

Research has suggested glucosamine has a protective action on the intestinal tract. Further studies are needed to support these preliminary findings.

Safe Use of Glucosamine Supplements

Glucosamine sulphate is generally considered a safe supplement. For most people it is well tolerated and non-toxic when taken as recommended. Research cases given high doses have demonstrated various adverse effects such as drowsiness, insomnia, headaches, digestive upset and skin reactions. Such effects are rare at normal dosages.

Because glucosamine is usually sourced from shellfish shells, people with shellfish allergies should naturally avoid these products. A vegetarian supplement is available (manufactured using no animal product).

Studies on glucosamine effect on blood sugar are inconclusive, however they suggest that insulin resistance may be affected by glucosamine sulphate. People with unstable blood sugar conditions are advised to consult a health practitioner before taking a glucosamine supplement.

Glucosamine sulphate is in a different category to sulphur drugs and sulphate-containing foods, and will not cause a reaction in people with sulphate allergies.

How To Source Glucosamine

Glucosamine provides the raw material for our bodies to maintain and repair the components critical for healthy joint mobility and function. It is a beneficial therapeutic supplement in osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints of the body.

Glucosamine sulphate and glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) are the stable forms of glucosamine supplement used in tablets and capsules.

Recommended Glucosamine Dosage

1500 mg of glucosamine per day is the usual recommended dosage for treating osteoarthritis. This can be taken in a single dose or divided into two or three doses taken through the day. A more accurate method of determining individual dosages, as recommended by some studies, is to take 20 mg glucosamine per kilogram of bodyweight.

Research indicates the best approach is to continue glucosamine supplements for minimum one to three months duration to obtain optimal results. Long term use is considered safe in adults, and in fact studies indicate a probable sustained clinical effect. This makes sense in terms of the increasing need for glucosamine with aging, and its intrinsic role in maintaining joint health.

Effective Glucosamine Supplement Combinations

Glucosamine is sometimes combined with other nutrients, particularly chondroitin, Omega 3, MSM and Boron.

Preliminary findings from the GAIT study in the USA show that supplementing glucosamine and chondroitin in combination is more effective in treating osteoarthritis than supplementing only one or the other of these nutrients. Outcomes conclusively showed improved pain relief for people suffering moderate to severe osteoarthritic joint pain.

Combining glucosamine sulphate with Omega 3 has been proven to significantly improve pain reduction outcomes compared with taking glucosamine sulphate on its own.

Boron is another essential nutrient in cartilage and studies show people with osteoarthritis are deficient.

Glucosamine Health Benefits