Glucosamine: Is It Worth a Try? Does It Work?
Glucosamine may be worth a try if you're searching for a dietary supplement that will reduce joint discomfort. It appears to provide relief for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, according to some studies.
The use of glucosamine sulfate orally aids for treating a painful disease brought by inflammation, cartilage degradation, and ultimately cartilage loss.
What Is Glucosamine?
Glucosamine is a compound made from fructose and the amino acid glutamine. Glucosamine is a scientifically researched and well-founded ingredient. The popular nutrient is found in food; unfortunately, few dietary sources are truly rich in the compound. It occurs in the shells of shellfish and crustaceans and cartilage of animals. In some parts of the world, this white flesh is eaten entirely. However, this is not common in a Western diet.
What Does Glucosamine Do?
Your body's glucosamine contributes to the maintenance of the cartilage, the rubbery substance that cushions your bones at joints, and keeps it healthy. But as you age, your levels of this substance start to decline, which causes the joint to deteriorate over time.
Despite the fact that experts are unaware of the precise mechanism, there is some proof that glucosamine sulfate supplements can assist to lessen this effect.
In addition to treating rheumatoid arthritis, some people have also taken glucosamine to attempt to treat other ailments, including inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, allergies, chronic venous insufficiency, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint issues (TMJ), and persistent low back pain. But there isn't a lot of scientific proof to support its efficacy for those issues yet.
How Much Glucosamine Should You Take?
The average dosage for treating osteoarthritis in most research was 500 mg of glucosamine sulfate, taken three times per day. Consult your healthcare provider for accurate prescription you might need. To avoid stomach distress, it is advised by some medical professionals to be taken with meal.
Safety and Precautions
Glucosamine appears to be a supplement that is generally safe. Most adverse effects are minor. If you consume large amounts, you're more likely to develop them. You may experience having an uneasy stomach, heartburn, drowsiness or headache.
Caution in using glucosamine is advised if you are allergic to shellfish since it can worsen asthma and you may experience negative response.
There is also a considerable worry that glucosamine may cause an increase in ocular pressure. Before using glucosamine supplements, see your doctor if you have glaucoma.
Additionally, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, renal illness, heart disease, bleeding problems, or any other medical condition, consult your doctor before taking it.
As there is currently insufficient data to confirm its safety for these populations, glucosamine is not advised for use by children or by pregnant or nursing women.
The Science Behind Glucosamine
A study demonstrated that, to a certain extent, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is better to alternative therapies for knee osteoarthritis. When taking into account the point of impact, tolerability, and financial expenses, it is reasonable to popularize and utilize the combination in KOA therapy. Furthermore, further high-quality trials are necessary to fully explore the precise therapeutic benefits of the combination due to the sparse number of studies and inconsistent trial quality.
According to a number of research including both human and animal subjects, certain forms of glucosamine may:
- prevent the onset of the changes that cause IBD
- lessen the immune reaction that causes MS
- improving knee range of motion after a sports injury
In a number of clinical studies, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were found to slow the course of OA knees.
Glucosamine and Osteoarthritis. A meta-analysis indicated that glucosamine is superior to placebo in alleviating knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
Glucosamine and Osteoarthritis. Clinical research have shown that chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate reduce pain and improve function. Recent meta-analyses have documented and investigated the structure-modifying effects of these substances.
Vitamin E and Osteoarthritis. In animal models of osteoarthritis, vitamin E therapy appeared to prevent cartilage deterioration and enhance oxidative state. Vitamin E may slow the onset of osteoarthritis by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the joint.
People with osteoarthritis may experience some pain relief from glucosamine sulfate. People who are unable to take NSAIDs may find the supplement to be a useful alternative as it seems to be safe (NSAIDs). Despite conflicting study findings, glucosamine sulfate may be worth a shot.
Glucosamine and Lung Cancer. Results for glucosamine usage are comparable to earlier human investigations of NSAID use and lung cancer, both in terms of size and the restriction of the link to adenocarcinoma. Glucosamine doesn't have any recognized side effects, unlike NSAIDs. Glucosamine is a promising option for lung cancer chemotherapy prophylaxis, but further research is required.
Benefits of Glucosamine
- Reduces inflammation around joints. Glucosamine has been found to alleviate inflammation around joints, especially when combined with chondroitin, which also aids in cartilage preservation.
- Supports healthy joints. Glucosamine promotes the growth of tissues necessary for healthy joint function.
- Increases flexibility and athletic performance. Aching joints are not ideal for performing at the highest level. Glucosamine helps relieve pain in the body for optimal performance.
- Used to treat joint and bone disorders. By lowering pain and inflammation, glucosamine is widely used to treat joint and bone problems such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Delays the progression of knee Osteo Arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have shown robustly to delay the progression of knee OA in several well-designed studies, however more controlled clinical trials are needed to conclude that nutritional changes slow down the progression of the disease.
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The Inspirer,
Dr. Lilian O. Ebuoma
