What is Glucosamine ?

Glucosamine is a substance produced in the body naturally. It is an important component in the formation of the skin, bones, hair, eyes and other body tissues. Glucosamine is available as a nutritional supplement which is taken orally and may help in strengthening and rebuilding cartilage. The effectiveness of nutritional supplements may be discussed with your physician depending on your individual condition before using them for treatment.

Arthritis patients often take glucosamine supplements in the treatment of osteoarthritic conditions. Glucosamine is an amino sugar that can create synovial fluid which is one of the building blocks for making cartilage. When the body fails to make enough glucosamine joint problems like arthritis may develop. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis where the cartilage which cushions the bones in the joints gets damaged and the joints may develop inflammation, pain, swelling and deformities. There are many types of osteoarthritis and they may affect any of the joints like the hip, knee, fingers and the vertebrae. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is by a physical examination along with discussions of symptoms reported by the patient and some imaging tests like x-rays and MRI’s. Treatment of osteoarthritis may involve physical therapy, diet management if overweight, medication, nutritional supplements and surgery in more severe cases.

Glucosamine is often extracted from the tissue in the vertebrae of marine animals in order to make supplements for human consumption. It is considered non-toxic and easily absorbable into the bloodstream in some studies. Glucosamine supplements are available in a solid form as pills or as a liquid for easier consumption. People using glucosamine supplements should consult with their doctor in order for the supplements to be safe in case of using other medications or suffering from pre-existing conditions like diabetes etc. Supplements of glucosamine are mostly available over-the-counter. Glucosamine is often combined with other supplements such as chondroitin. Definitive results on the studies conducted on these supplements have not yet been found and they are classified as dietery supplements and not as a treatment for arthritic or other conditions. Normally dosages of about 500 mgs are taken three times daily. Some studies show that glucosamine supplements may actually slow down the process of damage to the cartilage and may be as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in osteoarthritis pain relief. Due to the nature of dietery supplements and of them not having been classified as a treatment option, safety measures have to be followed if a person decides to take them. Some of the safety measures include, checking with the physician about general health conditions and specifically if the person has been diagnosed with arthritis. Getting a product which has been advised by the doctor and which is from a reliable company. Checking the labels of the products used for ingredients. Any other pre-existing conditions or diseases have to be verified by a doctor to check if there will be any interference by taking the supplements. People who have allergies have to especially be careful as these supplements are often extracted from the vertebrae of sea animals. Till definitive research and results are shown about taking these supplements as a treatment for osteosrthritis, the supplements should be taken in consultation with your physician.