arthritis-glucosamine-glucosamine-sulfate

Glucosamine
glucosamine sulfate, hydrochloride and chondroitin

Glucosamine is available as glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. A review of the scientific literature shows glucosamine is likely to be helpful for many patients with osteoarthritis.
Note: Glucosamine has hardly been evaluated in conditions other than osteoarthritis. Hence it is not clear whether this nutrient is helpful in those with damage to cartilage or joints due to musculoskeletal injuries.

Q. What is Glucosamine?
A natural substance found abundantly in the human body, glucosamine is made from the combination of a sugar - hence the first part of the name glucos(e) - and an amine, which is a derivative of ammonia containing nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H) atoms.
Glucosamine is found largely in cartilage and plays an important role in its health and resiliency. As we age, we lose some of the glucosamine and other substances in cartilage.. This can lead to the thinning of cartilage and the onset and progression of arthritis. In this book we'll explore the concept that taking glucosamine pills by mouth can play a role in helping patients with arthritis. It is important to note that there are a variety of important substances within cartilage and glucosamine ingestion, by itself, should not be viewed as the complete answer. Glucosamine is available over the counter and through mail order vitamin companies.

Q. But can glucosamine pills be absorbed from the stomach and end up in cartilage?
A. Yes. After oral administration of glucosamine sulfate (GS), 90% is absorbed. (Sulfate means that the
glucosamine is attached to a sulfur and oxygen atoms.)
In a study done in Italy, two healthy male volunteers were given 250 mg of oral GS, tagged with radioactive carbon 14 as a tracer, in the morning on an empty stomach. The radioactive GS was found an hour later in blood and then later in other tissues. The researchers state, "GS very rapidly diffuses in most tissues and organs and that it has a special tropism (attraction) for articular tissue (cartilage) and for bone." These volunteers were also given GS intravenously (IV) and intramuscularly (IM). The amount of GS in blood after oral administration was only a quarter of the amount available by IV and IM. Therefore oral administration is effective, but not as good as IV or IV. When oral GS is absorbed, it first goes to the liver where a large portion gets broken down into smaller molecules such as carbon dioxide, urea and water.

Q. Should I take glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride?
A. Almost all of the studies done with this nutrient have used the sulfate form, and we know that it works. However, the hydrochloride form has been used by doctors for many years and it seems to work just as well. The hydrochloride form is cheaper. Here are some points to consider.
1)After oral administration, glucosamine sulfate is split into glucosamine and sulfate ion. Therefore, it probably doesn't matter if one takes ghcl or gs.
2)During the preparation of gs, sodium and potassium are added, and about 83 percent of ghcl is actual glucosamine while only about 63 percent of gs is actual glucosamine. Therefore, one gets more glucosamine per capsule form ghcl than from gs.
3) There's plenty of sulfur in the body. Sulfur is readily available in the foods we eat. There's plenty around in the body to use when needed.
4) GS is more expensive.
5) One company, Rotta in Italy, picked the GS form years ago and they 've funded all the studies with this form. Most of the results have been positive. However, this doesn't mean other forms like GHCL don't work.
6) The clinical response from patients seems to be similar.
May 2001

Q. I have an allergic reaction to some shellfish, but not others. For example, I had a very major reaction to giant clam, but I can eat shrimp and crab. I also developed a really bad reaction to Betadine. Do you think I can
I use Chondrointin and Glucosamine?
A. It would be difficult to predict your response. Most glucosamine is from derived from shrimp and crab shells and chondroitin is derived from cartilage of cows, pigs, and sharks.

Q. From what I've read, I've learned that glucosamine is derived from shellfish and chondroitin is derived from cow cartilage. How safe is it to take something made from cow cartilage with the whole mad cow disease thing? Your response would be greatly appreciated since I've been on glucosamine and chondroitin for a while now and is the only thing that has been able to keep my shoulder pain under control. I'm 28 years old and have tried prescription meds and a natural supplement like this has created an amazing turn around for me.
A. Yes, glucosamine is derived from shellfish, and chondroitin is derived from cartilage from cows, pigs, and sharks. I don't know how mad cow disease situation is affecting the production of chondroitin. Perhaps manufacturers are switching to cartilage from other animals or only those raised in the US. I'll post an answer as soon as I find more information.

Q. I have a 15 year old son who has elbow, and shoulder pain recently, possibly from playing baseball. Will taking 3 glucosamine chondroitin tablets daily help to strengthen these joints? Is there any problem with someone this age taking these supplements even though they are not done growing?

Q. When I was 21 I had knee surgery and had a large % of my meniscus removed . Iam now 28, I have been taking glucosamine for about 3 weeks now will this help at all to regenerate the cartilage as they say.
A. Glucosamine has not been tested in the young and we don't know how well it works in aches and pains due to various musculoskeletal conditions. Glucosamine has also not been tested in conditions where surgical removal of the meniscus. But since it is generally safe, it may be worthwhile to give it a try for 2 to 4 months.