Glucosamine is one of the most commonly used supplements for arthritis pain. While many products contain more than one type of glucosamine, most research is focused on the effects of glucosamine sulfate. In addition to providing pain relief, glucosamine sulfate may also improve joint integrity and reduce swelling caused by arthritis.
What Is Glucosamine Sulfate?
Glucosamine comes in different forms, including that which occurs naturally in the body as well as that which comes from outside sources. Glucosamine sulfate can be derived from two sources: shellfish exoskeletons or synthetic production. Glucosamine sulfate is often sold in combination supplements, which may include other types of glucosamine as well as other similar supplements. These include chondroitin, as well as methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM.
Function
Glucosamine sulfate has a few properties that appeal to people with arthritis. First, it can act as an anti-inflammatory for arthritic joints. This can ease arthritis pain. In some cases, glucosamine sulfate is as effective as other pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or even prescription anti-inflammatories. It can also repair some of the joint damage caused by the arthritis disease process. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, also known as AAFP, glucosamine sulfate may help stimulate cartilage cells to produce more cartilage. This can potentially repair damaged cartilage, or create new cartilage on joint surfaces.
Effects
The AAFP reports that there has been extensive research regarding the effects of glucosamine sulfate on arthritis pain; however, the results have been mixed. Some studies reviewed by the AAFP show that it does help with pain control, while others show little difference between the effects of glucosamine sulfate and those of a placebo. What the AAFP did find in its review, however, was that glucosamine sulfate did seem to help decrease joint space narrowing, and also eased moderate-to-severe arthritis pain. However, the AAFP reports that many studies were small, and not necessarily free of bias.
GAIT Study
Perhaps the largest and most thorough study of glucosamine's effect on arthritis pain was the GAIT study, which stands for Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial. The GAIT studied the effects of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and the popular arthritis drug celecoxib on arthritis pain, comparing them to those of a placebo. The results indicated that those who benefited the most from glucosamine sulfate had moderate-to-severe arthritis pain, and took a combination supplement that included chondroitin. Other arthritis candidates showed little variance from those taking the placebo.
Tips for Glucosamine Use
According to the AAFP, glucosamine is generally safe, having similar side effects as those of regular arthritis medications. However, it can interact with blood-thinning medications. Additionally, because some forms of glucosamine are derived from shellfish, people with seafood allergies should be cautious when it comes to glucosamine sulfate. However, the AAFP reports that, to date, no adverse effects in people with seafood allergies have been reported. Like any other supplement, consult your doctor before adding glucosamine sulfate to your daily treatment regimen.
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