Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance in your body found in cartilage and fluid around joints. You can take glucosamine supplements to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation related to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or other forms of inflammatory conditions of the joints. While glucosamine supplements are considered relatively safe, discuss this option with your physician before you begin taking glucosamine.
Glucosamine Dietary Supplements
Glucosamine dietary supplements usually contain either glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride, which are forms of the substance derived from shells of shrimp or other shellfish. According to research published in the "Clinical Interventions in Aging" in 2007, glucosamine hydrochloride is more easily absorbable than glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine hydrochloride is 99 percent pure glucosamine, while glucosamine sulfate is only 74 percent pure. A 1,500 mg dosage containing glucosamine hydrochloride is equivalent to a 2,608 mg dosage with glucosamine sulfate. If you have a shellfish allergy, it is important to avoid glucosamine supplements made from shellfish. Glucosamine supplements can also be synthetic, formed in a laboratory. This type of supplement is just as functional and usable if you have a shellfish allergy, but it may be more expensive.
Dosage
Your body can only absorb a certain amount of glucosamine at once, so you should split up your supplements into several doses throughout the day. Taking 500 mg of glucosamine three times per day is adequate treatment for most adults, reports the Mayo Clinic website. Glucosamine is readily available over the counter as tablets, capsules, powders or liquid drops. It may take awhile for you to feel the effects of glucosamine -- possibly as much as two to four months. Glucosamine is also available as a topical cream for treatment as an instant pain reliever.
Benefits of Glucosamine
Some types of arthritis can cause cartilage to break down completely, allowing bones to rub against each other. Additionally, aging can lead to weakened cartilage, causing pain and inflammation in joints. Taking glucosamine supplements has not been shown to rebuild or repair cartilage, but it may help relieve symptoms. If you suffer from some type of arthritis, taking glucosamine supplements can help relieve pain, prevent inflammation and minimize swelling, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. You may experience these benefits up to three months after your last dose of glucosamine.
Effects of Chondroitin
Glucosamine may work best when it is paired with chondroitin, which is a substance that is believed to pull fluid into joints, keeping them flexible. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are often paired together in a single supplement for convenience. While these products tend to be marketed together, little evidence suggests that chondroitin boosts the effects of glucosamine, explains MedlinePlus.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Glucosamine; June 2009
- MedlinePlus; Glucosamine Sulfate; January 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Glucosamine; April 2011
- "Clinical Interventions in Aging"; Glucosamine Hydrochloride for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Symptoms; Anne Fox and Mary M. Stephens; December 2007
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