Glucosamine sulfate information, FAQ and product listing page. This page contains information and frequently asked questions about glucosamine sulfate as well as a complete list of products containing glucosamine sulfate.
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What is glucosamine sulfate and what does it do?
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring element in the body that plays a crucial role in building of cartilage. Cartilage is a tough connective tissue that acts as a padding and cushion of the joints and requires glucosamine because of glycosaminoglycans, produced by glucosamine and required by cartilage as a key building block. Glucosamine is also needed by cartilage because it plays a role into the incorporation of sulfur into cartilage, which is required to make and repair it.
Glucosamine may be efficient in treating and even delaying the progression of osteoarthritis. If you’re unaware, osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis commonly caused by wear and tear on the joints. It leads to inflammation, breakdown, as well as eventual total loss of cartilage. Some of the tissues that are more affected by osteoarthritis include those that are weight bearing joints, like the knees and the hips. The joints found in the hands are included in this, as well.
Some studies have hinted that glucosamine may be somewhat as effective as some of the common medications used to treat joint condition, while having fewer gastrointestinal side effects. NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and piroxicam are included in this category and can cause upset stomachs, constipation, diarrhea, and cramps.
More often than not glucosamine is taken in conjunction with chondroitin, another supplement that is believed to be effective in treating arthritis. Both of these are normally combined with manganense, a trace metal also required for building cartilage.
What are the benefits of taking glucosamine sulfate?
There are two main benefits for taking glucosamine sulfate. The first reason is to help treat arthritis, and while not every study agrees, strong evidence does exist from many trials that can indicate that glucosamine sulfate can play a role in treating osteoarthritis, particularly that of the knee. Generally, the findings from these studies show that perhaps glucosamine provides benefits for individuals with osteoarthritis in the form of reduction of pain, like ibuprofen. It also helps improve mobility and function, and it slows or even prevents destruction of the joints when taken for an extended time period.
Setup side by side and compared to NSAIDs, glucosamine takes more time to begin working. With glucosamine however, control of the pain is longer and it provides fewer side effects.
The other well known benefit of glucosamine sulfate is that it can treat IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease. Some evidence hints that N-acetyl glucosamine oral supplements (and enemas) may help improve symptoms of IBD in children. However, more treatment is needed to determine if glucosamine sulfate is effective and safe for treating IBDs like crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two inflammatory bowel diseases that cause bloody diarrhea.
Who can benefit from taking glucosamine sulfate?
Those that have a family history of arthritis may want to consider taking glucosamine sulfate to help further strengthen cartilage found within your joints. Also, bodybuilders and other athletes may also benefit as the training involved in these sports places excess stress on the joints.
How much glucosamine sulfate should I take?
Adults should take 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate a day for about one to two months. It should be taken in sets of 500 milligrams, three times a day. However, lasting supplementation of 1,000 milligrams a day or so may be needed to help prevent osteoarthritis or to reduce the pain and inflammation commonly affiliated with the condition.
Does glucosamine sulfate have any side effects?
A lot of studies have indicated that glucosamine is a safe, nontoxic element that causes very few side effects, and minor ones at that. Some of these side effects consist of an upset stomach, indigestion, gas, bloating, heartburn, and diarrhea. At first sign of these symptoms you should be taking glucosamine with food. In addition, those with peptic ulcers should take glucosamine sulfate with food as well.
Individuals that are on a restricted diet may want to be careful when picking the glucosamine sulfate supplement that they want to use, as some contain high amounts of potassium and sodium.
References:
Sources used:Adams ME. Hype about glucosamine [editorial]. Lancet . 1999;354:353-354. Chard J. Glucosamine for osteoarthritis: magic, hype, or confusion? It's probably safe-but there's no good evidence that it works [editorial]. BMJ . 2001;322:1439-1440. da Camara CC, Dowless GV. Glucosamine sulfate for osteoarthritis. Ann Pharmacother . 1998;32:580-587. Das A, Hammond TA. Efficacy of a combination of FCHG49 glucosamine hydrochloride, TRH122 low molecular weight sodium chondroitin sulfate and manganese ascorbate in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage . 2000;8(5):343-350. Deal CL, Moskowitz RW. Nutraceuticals as therapeutic agents in osteoarthritis. The role of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and collagen hydrolysate. Rheum Dis Clin North Am . 1999;25:379-395. Delafuente JC. Glucosamine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am . 2000;26(1):1-11. Gaby AR. Natural treatments for osteoarthritis. Altern Med Rev . 1999;4(5):330-341. Kelly GS. The role of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfates in the treatment of degenerative joint disease. Alt Med Rev . 1998;3(1):27-39. Leeb BF, Schweitzer H, Montaq K, Smolen JS. A metaanalysis of chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol . 2000;27:205-211. McAlindon T. Glusoamine for osteoarthritis: dawn of a new era? Lancet . 2001;357(9252):247-248. McCarty MF. Enhanced synovial production of hyaluronic acid may explain rapid clinical response to high-dose glucosamine osteoarthritis. Med Hypothes . 1998;50:507-510. Murray MT, Pizzorno JE. Glucosamine. In: Pizzorno JE, Murray MT, eds. Textbook of Natural Medicine . Vol 1. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1999:761-765. Reginster JY, Deroisy R, Rovati LC, et al. Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lancet . 2001;357:251-256. Rindone JP. Randomized, controlled trial of glucosamine for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. West J Med . 2000;172(2):91-94. Special Report: A look at glucosamine and chondroitin for easing arthritis pain. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter. January 2000;17(11):4-5. Towheed TE, Anastassiades TP. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treating symptoms of osteoarthritis. JAMA . 2000;283(11):1483-1484.