Glucosamine sulfate is primarily used for relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis, a slowly progressive form of arthritis. Extensive research supports the use of glucosamine sulfate, MedlinePlus reports. Preliminary research indicates that glucosamine may also be helpful for people who experience certain types of headaches. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before taking glucosamine sulfate supplements.
Glucosamine Sulfate
Glucosamine sulfate occurs naturally in the body. The chemical is important for the production and healing of cartilage in the joints. Glucosamine also has anti-inflammatory effects. Glucosamine sulfate supplements are derived from shellfish shells or made synthetically. They are available in 500 milligram capsules, and research often uses doses of 500 milligrams three times per day, notes MedlinePlus.
Glucosamine for Arthritis
Glucosamine sulfate supplements may reduce osteoarthritis pain in the knee about as well as the over-the-counter pain relievers acetaminophen and ibuprofen, according to MedlinePlus. It can take up to eight weeks to work, and not everyone experiences pain relief when taking glucosamine. A patient taking glucosamine for arthritis got researchers interested in evaluating glucosamine for headaches. In this case report, the woman was taking 500 milligrams of glucosamine three times per day. While the dosage didn't help her arthritis symptoms, she no longer experienced a long-standing problem of migraines.
Headache Research
The researchers published their study in the September 2000 issue of "Medical Hypotheses." Ten patients susceptible to migraine headaches or vascular headaches participated. These individuals had not experienced relief with established headache preventive or therapeutic treatments. They took glucosamine in doses of 500 to 1,500 milligrams three times per day. A substantial reduction in headache frequency or intensity, or both, occurred after four to six weeks. Some participants needed more than 500 milligrams three times per day to experience improvements.
Possible Functions
The authors of the "Medical Hypotheses" study theorize that taking glucosamine supplements reduces inflammation associated with migraines and certain other headaches by stimulating heparin synthesis in mast cells. Heparin has the important function of preventing blood clots, and you may have heard of the synthetic heparin medication prescribed for people at risk for harmful clots. Heparin produced naturally in the body also has a range of anti-inflammatory effects. The authors state that supplemental glucosamine may correct a heparin deficiency in people experiencing certain types of headaches. In addition, animal research published in the July 2002 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Investigation" indicates that glucosamine sulfate may be essential for heparin's anti-inflammatory effects.
References
- MedlinePlus: Glucosamine Sulfate
- "Medical Hypotheses"; Glucosamine for Migraine Prophylaxis?; A.L. Russell and M.F. McCarty; September 2000
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
- Doctor's Nutrition: Current Updates
- The Free Dictionary by Farlex: Heparin
- "Journal of Clinical Investigation"; Heparin's Anti-inflammatory Effects Require Glucosamine 6-O-Sulfation; L. Wang, et al.; July 2002
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