GHS Natural Health Blog

What is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is made of an amino acid and a sugar molecule and is a raw material for making connective tissue in joint cartilage. In supplement form, it is derived from chitin, the hard material in crustacean shell. It can also be made from plant material such as corn, known as vegetarian glucosamine.

How does it work?

Glucosamine feeds and stimulates cartilage repair. It’s one of cartilage’s key building blocks and also encourages self-repair by stimulating the process that creates moisture-holding molecules.

Uses for Glucosamine

As we age, the body’s ability to produce glucosamine can decrease and this causes joint cartilage to lose it water holding capacity. The cartilage breaks and becomes less effective as a shock absorber, leading to joint stiffness. Supplementing the body’s natural glucosamine production has been shown in clinical trials to repair and rebuild worn or damaged cartilage. As the condition of the joint cartilage improves, pain is reduced and mobility increased.

What are the key benefits?

• Helps repair and rebuild damaged cartilage
• Can improve joint mobility and flexibility
• Symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis
• Helps reduce further cartilage damage
• Temporary relief of joint inflammation
• Temporary relief of joint pain

How does it compare?

Conventional osteoarthritis treatment involves anti-inflammation medicines. While they can be effective in relieving pain, they do not address the cause of the problem. Unlike these medicines, glucosamine has been demonstrated to effectively act on the cause of osteoarthritic pain – cartilage breakdown. By addressing the root the problem, osteoarthritis joint pain can also be relieved.

Where’s the evidence?

Given glucosamine works mainly as a structural compound to maintain cartilage, it’s more sensible to measure changes in joint structure, than pain reduction, to quantify glucosamine’s effectiveness. A review of a number of clinical trials that used X-rays to measure improvement concluded glucosamine can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis progression by 54%.

Glucosamine has also been shown in some clinical trials to work as effectively, if not better than some other commonly used arthritis medicines. Some studies show that it relieves pain and this is more marked in people with moderate to severe symptoms.

Does it really work?

Aside from the functional evidence above, thousands of glucosamine users are benefiting from the effects of glucosamine with about 400m tablets a year being consumed. In fact Choice Magazine found about 75% of their online members who were arthritis sufferers claimed they were experiencing a benefit from using glucosamine.

Arthritis is a generic term that encompasses more than 100 different diseases, all of which cause pain, stiffness, and usually swelling in the joints. According to the National Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects nearly 43 million Americans and is the leading cause of physical disability. Although it affects people of all ages, it most commonly develops as people get older.

The causes of most types of arthritis are unknown, although certain factors— particularly excess weight and joint injuries caused by accidents or overuse—increase risk. Genetic factors can increase risk for some types of arthritis. The most common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that involves the breakdown of cartilage and bone, particularly in the fingers and weight-bearing joints such as the spine, hips, and knees. Treatments include regular exercise, medication, and if a joint is seriously deformed, surgery.

Rheumatoid arthritis, the most severe form of arthritis, is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks joint tissues, causing inflammation that can eventually lead to serious damage, including bone erosion and dislocated joints. In some cases, the heart, lungs, and eyes also are affected. Effects of the disease can be limited by regular exercise during periods of remission and by rest and anti-inflammatory medications during attacks. Juven-ile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of arthritis in children. It often is mild, disappearing after several years, but serious cases can last a lifetime.

Gout results from an accumulation of uric acid in the blood, which leads to deposits of uric acid crystals in a joint. Typically, the first joint to be affected is the one in the big toe; other joints of the extremities—fingers, wrist, knee, and ankle—often become affected as well. Attacks, which last for days, can be extremely painful. Fortunately, gout generally can be successfully controlled. Uric acid is a waste product of the digestion of compounds called purines; avoiding foods rich in purines prevents or reduces the severity of attacks. During attacks, anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid drugs counteract joint inflammation and pain

As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) affects nearly 21 million Americans. Marked by pain and inflammation caused by cartilage breakdown in various weight-bearing joints (e.g., knee), sufferers commonly treat their symptoms with over-the-counter or prescription medication. But relief can often be offset by side effects and complications, such as gastrointestinal upset, ulcers or worse.

Luckily, you can quell your joint pain and swelling with a number of natural alternatives that are easier to tolerate. Here is a short guide to six options.

Glucosamine (with Chondroitin)

How It Works: Supplements of glucosamine, which slows and may even prevent progression of joint changes that cause osteoarthritis, are derived from either the shells of crustaceans, or are manufactured from vegetable materials such as corn.

What the Science Says: Results from a 24-week study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that taking glucosamine and chondroitin together may help reduce pain in individuals with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis; the combination didn’t seem to help those with mild symptoms, however. It may take several weeks to experience the full pain-relieving effects.

The Best Way to Use It: Use the recommended doses–1500mg daily for glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride and 800-1200mg daily of chondroitin sulfate. Also, go for quality. “The quality and biologic activity levels of chondroitin and glucosamine sources vary, and good products use the most active components. Many of the cheap brands contain inexpensive and often inactive chondroitin, for instance,” says Jason Theodosakis, MD, author of The Arthritis Cure and other books.

Caution: Glucosamine may adversely affect insulin sensitivity, a potential issue for diabetics.

Product Example: Glucosamine & Chondroitin Tablets by Thompson’s

Ginger

How It Works: Ginger contains active compounds that may decrease joint pain and inflammation in people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

What the Science Says: Study findings from the University of Miami show that among 247 subjects, 63 percent of people taking 255mg of ginger extract twice daily reduced their OA knee pain. The ginger users were also able to reduce their need for “rescue” medication, namely acetaminophen.

The Best Way to Use It: Ginger is available in multiple forms, including capsules, extract and tincture. Follow dosage guidelines on the label or consult your doctor. You can also use ginger root to make a compress to apply directly to painful joints.

Caution: Talk to your doctor first if you are taking antacids and/or any medication for blood pressure, blood thinning, heart disease or diabetes–ginger could interact with these drugs.

Product Example: ArthxRelief by Rainbow Light (with ginger, plus glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, turmeric and other nutrients).

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine)

How It Works: SAMe, a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is also available as a supplement, treats pain, stiffness and joint swelling, improves mobility, rebuilds cartilage; also used to treat depression, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

What the Science Says: Findings to date indicate that SAMe relieves pain as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but with fewer side effects.

The Best Way to Use It: The standard dosage is 600-1200mg daily for OA, best taken under a doctor’s supervision. Also, take on an empty stomach.

Product Example: Pretorius SAM-E Tablets.

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

How It Works: MSM is an organic sulfur compound found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, animals and humans. “Sulfur is the third most common mineral in the body and is critical for the structure of connective tissues, including those in and around the joints,” says Theodosakis. MSM has an anti-inflammatory effect, and is believed to help repair damaged connective tissue associated with joint degeneration.

What the Science Says: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 50 men and women, ages 40-76, with knee OA pain showed pain reduction and improved mobility after using MSM (3g, twice daily) for 12 weeks. “MSM became popular mostly through anecdote, but now the research is catching up,” says Theodosakis.

The Best Way to Use It: MSM is available in topical and oral forms. The typical oral dosage for OA is 1000-3000mg daily, with meals. To avoid minor gastrointestinal symptoms, try gradually increasing the dose. Follow label directions for topical forms.

Caution: If you are using any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, take several hours before or after taking MSM, as some drugs can bind with mineral-containing supplements. Theodosakis also recommends the American-made, distilled form of MSM; the Chinese version may not have the same quality standards or purity.

Product Example: MSM Joint Support Powder by Blackmores.