Glucosamine is an over-the-counter dietary supplement often used to treat joint pain; however, it has the potential to help other types of pain as well. Unlike most dietary supplements, its effects on joint pain have been well researched. In addition to cartilage repair, glucosamine can prevent arthritis from progressing as quickly, leading to pain relief.
Types of Glucosamine
Glucosamine comes in several forms. Some types of glucosamine occur naturally in the body, and maintain the function of joint components such as cartilage and joint fluids. However, the type available in supplement form is either manufactured or taken from the skeletons of shellfish, such as crabs. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that the two most common forms of supplemental glucosamine are glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride. Most glucosamine supplements contain a blend of several types, as well as other supplements. These include chondroitin and methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM.
How Glucosamine Works
Because glucosamine is a component of healthy joint structures, it can both maintain and repair the cartilage that lines them. Supplemental glucosamine may stimulate the cells that produce cartilage. This means that glucosamine can help both repair cartilage damage, and also maintain joint cartilage for longer. Glucosamine can also act as an anti-inflammatory, reducing the excess swelling in and around joints that often leads to pain.
Glucosamine and Arthritis
According to the AAFP, glucosamine is the most popular arthritis supplement on the market. Much of the research on glucosamine's effectiveness is centered around arthritis pain. While it is generally an effective treatment for arthritis, Spine Health reports that it may be best when used in combination with other medications, such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen. It has been most effective for people with moderate to severe arthritis pain, as opposed to milder forms of the disease.
Glucosamine and Other Conditions
While much of its research centers around arthritis, glucosamine has the potential to help other painful conditions as well. In addition to arthritis, MayoClinic.com lists fibromyalgia, migraines, sports injury pain and kidney stones among the possible diagnoses for which glucosamine may be beneficial. However, they also report that its effectiveness on these conditions is mostly theoretical, and not as thoroughly researched as arthritis.
Using Glucosamine Safely
While glucosamine is considered just as safe as most NSAIDs, it should still not be taken unless first discussed with a doctor. First, glucosamine can interact with blood thinning medications. In addition, MayoClinic.com reports that glucosamine use for other conditions should always be cleared by a physician, as its effectiveness for anything other than arthritis is not well researched.
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