Glucosamine is a naturally occurring element found in the body’s connective tissues. The natural sugar can also be extracted from shellfish, bone marrow, and fungi. This product forms a dietary supplement that assists in supporting joint and bone health.
What is glucosamine good for? Well, the supplements are also useful in reducing pain resulting from osteoarthritis. Besides that, these amino acids serve as cornerstones for different functional body parts. The supplement can either be administered independently or by combining it with other supplements. It can be taken either by cream application or orally.
What is Glucosamine Chondroitin?
Chondroitin occurs naturally in humans in the form of sugar chains. They are located in bone joints and bone marrows. They are also present in other non-human tissues such as shark, pigs, and shellfish. These products extracted from non-human products are used in the production of supplements.
It is also referred to as chondroitin sulfate, chonsurid, or chondroitin sulfuric acid. They are available in tablet, powder, capsule, and liquid form. Chondroitin is generally administered in combination with glucosamine or individually. Medical experts believe that chondroitin helps in maintaining flexibility in bone joints.
So, what does glucosamine chondroitin do? Combining the two supplements have aided in relieving pain for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Besides that, some doctors also debate that the products can help treat some other diseases and infections. These ailments include heart disease, glaucoma, high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, bladder problems, and cataracts.
However, there are still uncertainties about whether the products are effective in treating diseases or not. The FDA is yet to approve the use of these amino acids for medical purposes. Therefore, no doctor should prescribe the two products for medicinal purposes.
Commonly, these products are sold in pharmacies as herbal supplements. Herbal products follow no regulated manufacturing standards and requirements. Many herbal products contain contaminated toxins and drugs. For this reason, you should always purchase the products from a reliable dealer to minimize the risks involved.
Most supplements that have glucosamine, often have additional products. These other products include MSM, chondroitin, and shark cartilage. However, most people assume that taking combined supplements is more effective than taking glucosamine alone. To date, there is still no scientific evidence that offers any support to the fact that combining the ingredients adds the effectiveness of the supplements.
How to Use Glucosamine—Chondroitin
Before administering yourself with this supplement, enquire with your healthcare professionals first and look for more information. Remember to tell them about your medical status, including the medicine you use. Do not take these supplements if you are allergic to glucosamine or chondroitin. If you are expectant, reach out with your doctor to protect the baby. The same also applies to nursing mothers because the sugars may pass to the child through breast milk.
Reach out to your pharmacist, doctor, or medical expert if you are suffering from the following:
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Allergy to shellfish
• High blood pressure
• Hemophilia
• Prostate cancer
Remember to follow the manufactures instruction and directives. Always seek medical advice from a doctor or a medical expert. If you decide to use the products together, use them as directed by the package. Do not take an overdose or an underdose.
Do not take in different forms of these products. These may result in administering yourself with excess glucosamine or chondroitin. Do not take the supplements two weeks before going for any dental work or surgery. Make sure that you pay attention to changes and call the doctor if the problem escalates. Store the supplements in a cool, dry place.
If you miss a dose, always skip it for the next schedule. Never take in an extra supplement to cover up for the missed dose. Make sure you call the medical helpline if you overdose yourself.
Side effects of glucosamine and chondroitin
The side effects of using these supplements are yet to be known. However, you can notice specific allergic reactions such as difficulty in breathing, hives, swelling in lips, face, throat, and tongue.
It is advisable to stop using these products if you notice swelling in your legs and irregular heartbeats.
Common side effects include:
• Constipation and diarrhea
• Nausea and bloating
• Puffy eyelids
• Hair loss
• Stomach pains
It is good to note that this is not the full list of the side effects. Thus, always consult with your doctor for more side effects.
What is glucosamine sulfate?
Glucosamine sulfate is an organic substance located at the bone cartilage. The primary function of these products is to serve as the cornerstone for proteoglycans. These are large molecules found in bone cartilage that enhance its properties.
Traces of glucosamine sulfate can be found in bone cartilages four hours after oral consumption. They have a unique anti-inflammatory effect and a protective effect on the bones. Therefore, they can play a vital role in treating osteoarthritis and developing bone cartilage.
The product is well known for relieving knee pain in patients. However, the product is not effective in people with mild knee pain, overweight, and long duration knee pain. The product takes a period of four to eight weeks to relieve the pain.
Uses of Glucosamine Sulfate
This supplement is resourceful in relieving knee pain as well as building the joints. According to medical experts, glucosamine sulfate can boost the recovery of knee surgery. This is by helping the patient flex and bends with ease. Although it is still under research, medical experts claim that these products can help reduce osteoarthritis.
According to recent research, these products can help fight the spread of HIV. However, there is still much more information needed for scientists to claim that it can indeed help HIV patients.
Risks of Taking Glucosamine Sulfate
It is good to note that this product can only be found in the human body and shellfish. Thus, no foods contain such organic substances. (Learn more about it at Harnessing Strength)
In the past few years, glucosamine sulfate has appeared to be safe for human consumption. However, it still has some side effects that include:
• Constipation
• Drowsiness
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Rash
According to medical experts, these products can have a severe effect on insulin and blood levels. Hence, if you have diabetes, you must always consult your doctor before taking in these supplements. You should always check on your diet while using these drugs. They can have an adverse effect if you have much cholesterol in your body.
Studies prove that this naturally occurring substance can have adverse effects on some medicinal drugs. They can lower the effectiveness of medications used in treating diabetes and chemotherapy drugs. Furthermore, you may consider withdrawing from the consumption of these drugs if you take Coumadin. The reason being, they increase the risk of dangerous bleeding and bruising.
What does glucosamine do?
Glucosamine is a vital component in the development of cartilage. Patients suffering from osteoarthritis and arthritis take in the supplement as a form of medication.
Cartilages are essential tissues to body parts that help in body movement. They serve as padding tissues that connect bone joints at the end. The connective tissue tends to be robust, firm, flexible, and rubbery for effectiveness. As people age, cartilages tend to breakdown and become less flexible due to inadequate glucosamine produced. Fall in glucosamine production results in joint deterioration, leading to pain in the knees and other body parts.
Glucosamine contains sulfur that plays a vital role in its efficiency. Sulfur is essential in enhancing the development of cartilages; thus, for cartilages to be repaired ad developed, they need sulfur that is found in these supplements.
How Does Glucosamine Assist with Osteoarthritis?
Patients suffering from osteoarthritis tend to take in glucosamine as a pain reliever for their hip and knee. According to medical experts, these tablets can help relieve swelling, pain, and stiffness of the joints.
It can also enhance the functionality of the hip and knee for people suffering from osteoarthritis. Besides, the supplements can help protect the patient from getting the symptoms in the future for a maximum of three months.
However, patients are discouraged from using these supplements by the Arthritis Foundation and American College of Rheumatology. There is not enough evidence to prove that the supplement is useful for treating the disease.
Patients find glucosamine cream useful in treating arthritis. According to the NIH, these creams contain camphor that helps in relieving pain.
Helps in Reducing Inflammation
People find glucosamine effective in treating inflammatory symptoms. However, there are still no sharp pieces of evidence to show that they are valid. However, for the results to be positive, you have to combine the supplements with chondroitin. Thus, raising a question as to whether the inflammation is reduced by the glucosamine, chondroitin, or both.
Helps in Supporting Healthy Joints
This product exists naturally in the human body. Its primary role is to help in developing healthy tissues. Articular cartilage, together with synovial fluid, helps in enhancing body movement of the bones. This is by reducing friction and allowing constant movement of bones with no straining. Glucosamine contains certain chemical compounds that help in the development of articular cartilage and synovial fluid. This ends up protecting the connective tissues from breaking down and aging.
Other Uses of Glucosamine
According to other studies, certain forms of glucosamine can help in the treatment of irritable bowel disease. Glucosamine exists in various ways, such as glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetyl-glucosamine. A group of scientists from the University of California claims that the latter supplements help in reducing damage to the autoimmune response occurring in the body. These supplements prevent the growth of abnormal T-cells that lead to the destruction of myelin.
However, many people still use glucosamine for various purposes. They include weight loss, relieving pain, treating glaucoma, HIV and AIDS, and treating interstitial cystitis.
How Does Glucosamine Work?
There are broad claims about the full range of treatments that glucosamine can offer to the human body. However, there are countable pieces of evidence that prove the narrow range offered by this product.
Currently, the only significant evidence that supports the use of this supplement is for osteoarthritis treatment. However, the research also proves that it may not work for every patient. Available information claims that these organic supplements are likely to be useful for a few inflammatory conditions.
Always pay attention to the quality of supplements that you use. Remember that the US government does not regulate most supplements. Thus, finding deceptive labels might be very easy and risky for you. Make sure that you double-check for third-party certification to be sure that you are buying a legit product. Often, manufacturers use the third-party certification to ensure their products are of good quality.
On a daily basis, one should take 1500 mg once or in smaller amounts throughout the day. The supplements are manufactured artificially in labs. They can be either administered in combination with chondroitin or alone. Always make sure that you use one form of glucosamine to protect yourself from an overdose.
To learn more, you can go to harnessingstrength.com.
What is Glucosamine Hydrochloride?
It is another form of glucosamine. Just like other glucosamine, these supplements occur naturally in humans in bone cartilage. Seashells and fungus act as raw materials for the production of these products in labs.
Before taking in any glucosamine supplement, always ensure that you check the product label carefully. The main reason for this is that supplements may contain different forms of glucosamine. It is good to note that although these forms have similar traits, they have diverse side effects.
This supplement comes in the form of a cream or oral tablets. They are incorporated with shark cartilage, chondroitin sulfate, and camphor to enhance its effectiveness.
Is Glucosamine Safe?
Glucosamine is safe to use. This is provided that you follow the prescriptions of the medical expert. However, the United States prohibits selling this kind of supplements as a treatment for any medical condition.
Glucosamine increases the international normalized ratio for patients taking warfarin. Furthermore, if you are a cancer patient, it may interfere with your chemotherapy treatment. If you are pregnant, you must always check with your doctor before taking these supplements.
Harmful effects that can occur are constipation, head rush, constipation, and stomach upset. Sometimes people with chronic liver disease report worsening of their condition after the use of glucosamine supplements. If you are allergic to shellfish, you can put your health at a higher risk by taking these supplements. This is due to the fact that most products are made with seafood.
However, these dietary supplements are considered safe for healthy people (this article provides reviews and details). Always consult a licensed health care worker before using these supplements. Alert your medical providers in case you are treated with herbal supplements. Always keep the supplements out of the child’s sight. Store the supplements in a cool, dry place and a safe place. Use the medication as prescribed by your medical expert. Always pay keen attention to body changes and allergies. If the situation worsens, remember to contact your doctor.