The most popular supplement used for joint pain, Glucosamine provides the raw materials used by the body to make cartilage and connective tissue, which in turn, helps to provide cushioning and lubrication for each of the body's joints. Glucosamine Sulfate has been the subject of more than 300 scientific investigations and has been supported by over 20 clinical studies. These studies conclude that Glucosamine relieves arthritis and joint pain and contributes to healing of the joints.
Glucosamine is naturally found amino acid in the human body particularly in cartilage. Glucosamine is very essential to maintain healthy cartilage. As the age progresses, there is gradual decrease of Glucosamine which in turn results in thinning of cartilage. This leads to joint pains and other bone related complications. Some times excess exercising may lead to elbow tendonitis. Usually the athletes and sportsmen engaged at the international events work out more causing damage to their bones and joints. Glucosamine therapy can effectively reverse such painful symptoms. It makes the joints more flexible and protects from the damage. Glucosamine is very effective in easing the joint pains, repairing the damaged joints and also for rehabilitation of cartilage. Glucosamine is particularly very effective in young patients than aged persons as presence of some cartilage in the joints is the basic requirement for rehabilitation. Glucosamine also helps to slow down the process of deterioration of cartilage due to osteoarthritis. It also improves the production of synovial fluid so that the bones and joints remain flexible.
Though the body is said to generate adequate amounts of glucosamine, the substance is being used up by the body at a constant rate due to various activities such as athletic activities, injuries, ageing, arthritis, burns and other such degeneration which is chronic in nature. This results in the need to supplement the body with enough glucosamine. The supplement is in general sold as glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate. This proves to be effective against bone and joint complaints as the salts are synergetic in nature.
Glucosamine is also prescribed along with chondroitin for deriving optimum benefit for curing arthritis. Usage of steroids and anti inflammatory drugs may be reduced by supplementing with glucosamine therapy. It is also reported to have encouraging results, by prescribing glucosamine sulfate for treatment of mild to moderate arthritis.
Clinical studies reveal that the use of Glucosamine Supplements is quite safe. However as these supplements are sometimes derived from shellfish, those who have an allergy towards it might want to avoid it. But studies also claim that since the allergen is only present within the animal from which the glucosamine is extracted, it might not have any allergic effects on even those who have a shellfish allergy.
Apart from osteoporosis and arthritis, glucosamine is also helped in treating ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease skin conditions and chronic venous insufficiency. However the glucosamine supplements for these conditions cannot be taken unless prescribed by an expert.
