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Glucosamine is found naturally in the body and it is an important component of cartilage, a cushion that surrounds the joint in your body. It is important to distinguish between the different forms, such as glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride, as they may not all have the same effects.
Glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride can be found in natural sources such as shellfish. They are taken orally with food. Glucosamine is often used in combination with another supplement, chondroitin.
The usual dose of glucosamine sulfate is 1,500 mg per day. The usual dose of glucosamine hydrochloride is 1,500 mg to 2,000 mg per day. It is recommended that this product be taken with food.
Glucosamine sulfate:
- helps to relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis (e.g., joint pain)
- protects against the wear-and-tear of cartilage
- helps to maintain healthy cartilage
Glucosamine hydrochloride:
- helps to maintain healthy cartilage
Research suggests that glucosamine may be beneficial in people with osteoarthritis. Most studies involve people who have osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Among the available forms, glucosamine sulfate has been studied the most. Interestingly, results have not always been consistent and this could be due to differences in study design or the glucosamine products that were used. Overall, glucosamine sulfate appears to reduce pain and improve physical ability. However, there is not enough information to recommend the use of other forms of glucosamine.
It may take at least 4 weeks of taking glucosamine consistently before you notice any improvement. If your symptoms worsen while taking glucosamine, contact your health care provider.
Glucosamine appears to be safe for most people. Common side effects include nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation.
There have been concerns that glucosamine may raise blood sugar in people with diabetes. More reliable research, however, shows that glucosamine does not affect blood sugar in this group of people.
Since glucosamine is produced from shells of shrimp, lobster, and crab, people with shellfish allergy should avoid it.
You should consult a health care practitioner before taking glucosamine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Before taking any new medications, including natural health products, speak to your physician, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Tell your health care provider about any natural health products you may be taking.
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