Glucosamine can be found in all higher (animal) organisms and is especially concentrated in the cartilage. The substance often is found in high concentrations in the joint cartilage of animals and in other body parts, including the throat.
High amounts of the substance in animals with skeletons that are entirely or partly made of cartilage. Shark cartilage is therefore especially rich in glucosamine sulphate. Elderly and weakened individuals contain very little cartilage and therefore also have very low resources of glucosamine sulphate. Glucosamine is also a precursor to chondroitin.
Glucosamine in tablet form is extracted from the shells of lobster, crabs, and shrimp.
In recent years, glucosamine sulphate treatment of arthritis and other diseases characterised by cartilage degeneration has made a remarkable step forward. In clinical double-blind placebo-controlled studies where the effect of glucosamine sulphate was compared with traditional remedies (such as ibuprofen), more favourable effects from the orthomolecular drug have been noted.
In cases of arthritis, glucosamine sulphate may inhibit the degeneration and the decomposition of the existent cartilage. There may also be regeneration effects which have not been seen with other kinds of treatment (such effects are mot yet certain). Glucosamine sulphate stimulates proteoglycans, which occur naturally in the building of cartilage. Furthermore, glucosamine enhances sulphur build up in cartilage. This is the reason why glucosamine sulphate is the most used source of glucosamine in supplements.
In a clinical double-blind placebo-controlled study, 40 patients with arthritis in the knee received 500 mg of glucosamine sulphate three times a day for 8 weeks, while another group took 1,2 g. of ibuprofen per day. In the latter group the pain intensity during the first two weeks fell more quickly than in the glucosamine sulphate group; but in the later phase of the study, both healing and pain reduction were more pronounced in the group of patients treated with orthomolecular medicine (glucosamine sulphate).
The result was that glucosamine sulphate was more effective than ibuprofen for long term treatment. In similar tests, glucosamine sulphate has preformed better than both placebo and orthodox medicines.
Glucosamine sulphate should be accompanied by a daily multi-vitamin supplement and in many cases, it can be combined with the plant preparations boswellia and ginger and the sulphurous preparation MSM.
How much should I take?
500 mg three times a day or 20 mg per kg of body weight a day. To be taken in connection with meals.
Glucosamine sulphate is easily absorbed in the body, but it works relatively slowly. Once the symptoms have decreased, however, you may reduce the daily intake with about a 1/3. As maintenance, preparations with chrondroitin suplphate are suitable.
Please note
It should be pointed out that some patients experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms when taking glucosamine sulphate.
Glucosamine sulphate is non-toxic even in very high amounts. However, some people might experience mild symptoms from the gastro-intestinal tract which in some cases can be relieved by taking supplements in with meals.
Diabetics, pregnant women, and children should consult their doctor before they start taking Glucosamine sulphate supplements.
