The Consumer Guide to Glucosamine
In this guide...
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound that provides joints with the building blocks they need to repair damage caused by osteoarthritis or injuries. Specifically, glucosamine provides the raw material needed by the body to manufacture a mucopolysaccharide (called glycosaminoglycan) found in cartilage.
Benefits and uses: The most promising use for glucosamine is in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects 12 percent of the population, approximately 30 million Americans, especially the elderly. Unlike non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.), which degrade cartilage, glucosamine may not only relieve symptoms of joint pain and tenderness but actually stop or reverse the degenerative process. Although definitive long term studies have yet to be done, some twenty clinical trials have showed that one form, glucosamine sulfate, can gradually reduce pain while improving range of motion and walking speed in people with osteoarthritis. In addition to possibly alleviating symptoms of osteoarthritis, glucosamine sulfate may also benefit wounds and kidney stones.
Daily requirement: There is no RDA for glucosamine.
Deficiency risk factors: A glucosamine deficiency in humans has not been reported.
Optimal intake: An average dose for people with osteoarthritis is 500 mg three times per day.
Recent findings: A double-blind study done on 178 Chinese patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee found that 1,500 mg per day of glucosamine for four weeks was more effective and much better tolerated than the conventional drug ibuprofen. Several recent review articles have also concluded that there is promising evidence that glucosamine can both control pain and slow down or reverse the progression of degenerative joint disease.
Safety: At the amount most frequently taken by adults—500 mg three times per day—toxicity has not been reported. Some glucosamine is processed with sodium chloride (table salt), which is restricted in some diets (particularly for people with high blood pressure). A recent review article reported short-term adverse effects among subjects in glucosamine studies included mild gastrointestinal problems, drowsiness, skin reactions, and headache.
What types of glucosamine supplements are available? Glucosamine comes in capsules and tablets, typically in potencies of 250 to 750 mg, and liquids. Glucosamine is sometimes combined with the other arthritis-relieving nutrient chondroitin, which is structurally and perhaps functionally similar, and with bovine cartilage. All of the positive clinical studies performed on glucosamine employed supplements containing glucosamine sulfate.
Benefits and Uses
Daily Requirements
Deficiency Risk Factors
Optimal Intake
Food Sources
Recent Findings
Safety
What Types Of Glucosamine Supplements Are Available?
References
Browse Our Wide Selection Of Glucosamine Products
- Qiu, G.X., et al., "Efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate versus ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis," Arzneimittelforschung (1998), 48(5):469–74
- Kelly, G.S., "The role of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfates in the treatment of degenerative joint disease," Altern Med Rev (1998), 3(1):27–39
- Da Camara, C.C., and G.V. Dowless, "Glucosamine sulfate for osteoarthritis," Ann Pharmacother (1998), 32(5):580–87
- Barclay, T.S., et al., "Glucosamine," Ann Pharmacother (1998), 32(5):574–79,
- D’Ambrosio E, et al. Glucosamine sulphate: a controlled clinical investigation in arthrosis. Pharmatherapeutica 1981;2(8):504- 8.
- Vajaradul Y. Double-blind clinical evaluation of intra-articular glucosamine in outpatients with gonarthritis. Clin Ther 1981;3(5):336-43.
- Puljate JM, et al. Double blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulfate in the basic treatement of osteoarthrosis. Curr Med Opinion 1980;7(2):110-14.
- Rovati LC, et al. A large, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of glucosamine sulfate vs. piroxicam and vs. their association, on the kinetics of the symptomatic effect in knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2(Suppl. 1):56, 1994.
- Crolle G, D’Este E. Glucosamine Sulphate for the management of arthrosis: a controlled clinical investigation. Curr Med Res Opin 1980;7(2):104-9.
- Muller-Fassbender H, et al. Glucosamine sulfate compared to ibuprofen in osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2(1):61-9, 1994.
- Dovanti A, Bignamini AA, Rovati AL. Therapeutic activity of oral glucosamine sulphate in osteoathrosis: A placebo-controlled double blind investigation. Clinical Therapeutics 3(4):266-272, 1980.
Browse Our Wide Selection Of Glucosamine Products