What is Glucosamine and should I use it?
Glucosamine is a natural substance that the body uses to make cartilage
for the joints in your body.
Cartilage is made up of
chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and extracellular matrix. The chondrocytes
take up about 5% of the space and the extracellular matrix is the other
95%. The extracellular matrix is made up of 70% water and the rest is
collagen and proteoglycans. These all bind together to give cartilage
strength as well as a cushioning type effect. Glycoseaminoglycans
are the major component of proteoglycans. Chondroitin sulfate is
the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in articular
cartilage.
There have been a number of studies that show
the effectiveness of glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfate in improving
joint flexibility, motion and even recovery of
cartilage. In one study, over a three-year period, a
daily dose of 1500mg of Glucosamine sulfate appeared to modify the effect of arthritis of
the knee. (Reginster et al., 1999 presented at The American College of
Rheumatology) A recent study indicated that a daily dose of 1500mg of
Glucosamine hydrochloride showed a significant difference in pain and
passive range of motion of the knee. (Houpt 1999. J
Rheumatology)
Another study looked at the use of daily
doses of 1500mg of Glucosamine hydrochloride and 1200 mg of Chondroitin
Sulfate on knee and back arthritis. They found that, over 16 weeks, there
was a decrease in the symptoms of the knee arthritis, but there was no
significant improvement noted for the spinal arthritis. (Philippi et al.,
1999 Military Med)
Products with Glucosamine and
Chondroitin have been sold as dietary supplements for years in both the US
and Europe. They are thought to be safe. In Clinical trials the most
common side effect was a mild stomach upset. Though they are derived from
shellfish, the extraction process is thought to eliminate any
allergens. Those with shellfish allergies should consult their
physicians prior to starting these medications.
There are many different companies that market Chondroitin Sulfate and
Glucosamine. These all tend to be fairly expensive. Although there are
studies that seem to show some benefit of these suppliments, there are still no good
long-term studies that show that they affect arthritis.
Many people claim that they have worked wonders for their
arthritis. We feel that, if you can afford them and want to try them, you
should. If you get good relief, and if you can afford it, you should
continue to use it. If you do not see any effect in 2-3 months, then you
probably should not bother to continue with it.
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