Glucosamine

Osteoarthritis, also known as ‘wear-and-tear arthritis’, and rheumatoid arthritis, caused by soreness of the joints are the most widespread forms of arthritis. While the two conditions are extremely dissimilar, both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are distinguished by their nature to destroy the connective tissues, especially the cartilage - the soft and flexible bone-like material that develops on the periphery of the joints enabling their smooth movement. The bone endings are left bare when the cartilage wears out and this leads to pain, rigidity as well as swelling around the joints. Recently, medicos have been advocating the use of a substance called glucosamine for curing arthritis. In fact, glucosamine is a normal component of cartilage that invigorates the manufacture of connective tissues in human's body.

It has been found that the production of glucosamine in the body declines significantly as people age. Owing to the deficiency of glucosamine, the cartilage becomes incapable of holding on to water and function as a shock absorber. Different researches on the subject have demonstrated that taking glucosamine enhancement diets helps in alleviating pain caused by arthritis and also thwart the progress of the ailment in patients. Regular usage of glucosamine supplements helps in dealing with the primary cause of arthritis by reinstating and repairing the worn out cartilage. It has been found that anti-inflammatory or placatory medications provide faster relief than glucosamine, but the fact remains that glucosamine is ultimately more effectual over a period of time. This primarily owing to the fact that while the consequences of the anti-inflammatory drugs abates soon, glucosamine continues to function effectively inside the body for a longer period. At the same time, use of glucosamine is safe, almost without any adverse side affects, while the anti-inflammatory drugs often leads to minor problems for the arthritis patient. In order to get the best from the use of glucosamine, it is advisable to take the substance with two other supplements - chondroitin that is also present in cartilage, and a natural hormone known as pregnenolone. The grouping of these three supplements has two advantages - relief from arthritis pain as well as stimulation of the process to manufacture new cartilage in the body.

Short-term controlled clinical trials with osteoarthritis patients have demonstrated that the use of glucosamine is effectual not only in alleviating pain, but also boosting the range of movement. A double-blind clinical trial conducted for four weeks on 252 osteoarthritis patients suffering from knee problems showed that administering them 500 mg of glucosamine sulfate thrice daily was more effectual than placebo or the normal medications used to treat the disorder in alleviating pain. During another double-blind clinical trial on 200 osteoarthritis patients suffering from knee problems for four weeks, researchers found that administering 500 mg of glucosamine sulfate to these patients was as helpful in alleviating pain as drugs like ibuprofen 400 mg taken three times daily from the second week of the trial on. Again, during another double-blind clinical trial conducted for eight weeks with 40 osteoarthritis patients, researchers administered 400 mg of glucosamine sulfate three times a day orally and found that the supplement dosage was as effectual in relieving pain as ibuprofen 400 mg taken thrice daily after the first two weeks of the study. Interestingly, by the end of the trial, glucosamine was found to be more useful compared to ibuprofen 400 mg. All these studies found that the usage of glucosamine sulfate was not only effective, but also well accepted by the osteoarthritis patients. In some cases, the patients who were administered glucosamine sulfate did complain of minor gastrointestinal distress and vomiting, but the frequency of this was not more than in the case with placebo.

Pharmacies and health food stores in the United States sell glucosamine in the form of sulfate, hydrochloride, chlorhydrate or n-acetyl salt and also as the destrorotatory isomer (chemically matching molecule with dissimilar formation). Occasionally, glucosamine is blended with chondroitin sulfate - a glycosaminoglycan that is said to be helpful in preserving the tackiness in the joints, invigorate the means to mend cartilage and hold back the enzymes that destroy the cartilage.

Clinical trials as well as usage of glucosamine by patients suffering from arthritis have proved that it is safe and without any side affects. In fact glucosamine has been found to be an effective remedy for osteoarthritis. However, like in the case of other dietary enhancements sold through drug stores and health food stores in the United States, the wholesomeness of glucosamine products available in the market is yet unknown.

Comments