Quality Assurance

  In many European countries, glucosamine is available only by prescription from a medical practitioner. In North America, glucosamine is classified as a natural health product and is readily available as an over-the-counter product. As such, glucosamine products are held to much lower standards in purity and potency than prescription medications. A recent independent study revealed that up to one third of the glucosamine products tested did not contain the amount of glucosamine stated on the label.42 For this reason, it is imperative that health practitioners recommend only those glucosamine products whereby the manufacturer can issue a certificate of analysis or a third party true-to-label claim document that verifies the purity and potency of the product. This should be a standing policy for practitioners in recommending all herbal or accessory nutrient supplements (e.g., glucosamine, CoQ-10, MSM).

Summary Remarks

  The current research status of glucosamine sulfate supports its use as a safe and effective biochemical intervention in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It should complement other natural therapies (e.g., manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue therapies, acupuncture electro-modalities), exercise and other evidence-based dietary and supplementation measures as part of the holistic management of osteoarthritic cases. There is also encouraging evidence to support its use as a natural agent that may be useful in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases, and possibly as an intervention to prevent age-related biochemical changes associated with the development of osteoarthritis and other degenerative conditions.


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