Glucosamine Safety

There are millions of doctor visits each year for osteoarthritis. As New Zealanders to learn more about the complications of osteoarthritis (OA) and the cost of treating this condition, there is a growing need to understand the remedies and complementary alternative that can help slow the progression of osteoarthritis and reduce the cost of orthodox health care. Such an alternative is proven glucosamine.

Glucosamine has some extremely beneficial uses, especially for connective tissue and osteoarthritis. The role that glucosamine can play in treating osteoarthritis is to delay, stop or even help reverse the degenerative process. Glucosamine is rapidly absorbed into cells. premature loss of cartilage is part of the clinical syndrome known as osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is often taken in combination with chondroitin.

Not only those who may suffer from osteoarthritis benefit from a contribution of glucosamine, but the warriors of people working weekends in particular can be a tendency to overuse certain joints. Glucosamine may help people regain cushioning, protecting cartilage around joints and may relieve pain.

Glucosamine is a natural compound present in the connective tissue and gastrointestinal mucosa. The following forms of glucosamine: glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride and mixtures of two of them. In theory, the two forms of sulfate and acid to dissolve completely in the stomach acid that makes all the glucosamine available for absorption in the small intestine.

Available data from randomized controlled trials support the use of glucosamine sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis, especially knee. A 2005 review of all randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy and the toxicity of glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis, covering 20 studies with 2570 patients, found that he was superior to placebo in the treatment of pain and resulting functional impairment of osteoarthritis. A study of postmenopausal women found that glucosamine sulfate reduced joint space narrowing compared with placebo. Some other reported benefits include relief of pain, probably due to an anti-inflammatory effect of glucosamine sulfate and improve joint function.

The chondroitin sulphate reduced joint swelling, but do not seem to relieve pain. Although more clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy and to test different formulations of glucosamine, the safety profile of glucosamine is far superior to that of NSAIDs, particularly in relation to some of the risks associated with the newer generation of NSAIDs.