General Glucosamine Information

Glucosamine has been studied for well over 40 years in humans1 and it has been used in prized thoroughbred horses, cats, dogs and even exotic animals. When it comes to safety, some clinical studies have reported more side effects in a sugar pilled placebo than with Glucosamine! Remember, Glucosamine is found naturally in the body and is a natural nutraceutical product. According to the Institute of Medicine and National Academies, “in Europe in approximately 1960, physicians introduced the use of glucosamine sulfate as an injectable therapeutic agent in the treatment of osteoarthritis2.”

Hundreds of thousands of people have used Glucosamine, and many have found it extremely effective to not only effectively ease their arthritis-related joint pain, but to also to provide them with far more than just long lasting relief. Glucosamine has been shown in clinical studies to regrow cartilage3, slow the progression of joint deterioration, and possibly even modify the disease itself with almost no side effects.

The most common reaction when you have mild pain or a headache or the like is to turn to a bottle of your favorite over the counter medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that “anti-inflammatory drugs (prescription and over-the-counter, which include Advil®, Motrin®, Aleve®, Ordus®, Aspirin, and over 20 others) alone cause over 16,500 deaths and over 103,000 hospitalizations per year in the US”, according to a review article published in the New England Journal of Medicine4 Everything from stomach bleeding to intestinal damage to liver failure can result from the long term use and interactions with what are known as NSAIDS, or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Fortunately, Glucosamine not only safely and effectively eases the joint discomfort of arthritis while working to do something that NSAIDs cannot do – rebuild cartilage. Don’t just treat the symptoms and cover up the pain, get more at the root of the problem and don’t neglect your body in an attempt to just cover the pain.

In the U.S., baby boomers (who started turning 50 in 1996) are doing so at a rate of 300,000 per month5. Even if you have not reached 50 yet, it is important to take steps now to slow down the effects of arthritis. Arthritis has no cure and it will not get better on its own, but a daily regimen of Glucosamine can help to keep your joints strong and maintain your cartilage for years to come.

Also, if you are taking or plan to begin taking Glucosamine if you suffer from arthritis, then you need to check the bottle. If you see (Glucosamine Sulfate * KCl) or (Glucosamine Sulfate * NaCl) or Glucosamine Sulfate as a Salt, then you should be aware that up to 30% or more6 of the Glucosamine is being bound up in salts. But the manufacturers can legally say that they are giving you whatever dosage is listed on the bottle but the active, bioavailabile amount of actual Glucosamine is going to be much smaller than the reported dosage because it has to be carried by the salts. Generally you will only find these deceptive (but unfortunately legal) practices in the very cheap glucosamine products, but you should be aware that you get what you pay for, and when it comes to important things like your body, one shouldn’t skimp. Your car can break down and you can fix it if you had to, but you only get one body.

References:

1. Current Medical Research and Opinion. Vol. 7, No. 2, 1980
2. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
3. Archives of Internal Medicine. 162(18):2113-23, 2002 Oct 14
4. Wolfe MM, et. al. NEJM 1999;340(24):1888-99
5. http://www.agr.gc.ca/food/nff/ffnmarket/ffnmrket.html
6. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
 
Glucosamine and Diabetes

A recent (July 13th 2003) study done by Dr. Daren Scroggie and associates from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, studied the effects of Glucosamine on glucose levels - a very important measurement for diabetics. The clinical study reported that taking glucosamine supplements in humans does not notably affect glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is great news, because there were a few animal studies that had shown a slight effect on glucose levels with large Glucosamine dosages that have lead researchers – until now – to be skeptical about Glucosamine’s effects on diabetics due to potential concerns about changing glucose levels.

As a result of this study, that has mostly changed. Whether or not the 34 patients were taking glucosamine, their glucose levels fluctuated very little - great news for diabetes.

Dr. Daren Scroggie explained that while the typical animal dose was 3,000 to 435,000 milligrams per day, the equivalent human dose is only 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per person per day. This gigantic contrast not only underscores Glucosamine's safety profile but shows that the effect of Glucosamine at therapeutic human dosages on glucose levels in humans is negligible. This is great news for diabetics with arthritis, as the NSAIDs commonly used to control arthritis have common toxic side effects and do little but mask the pain. Glucosamine, on the other hand, has a lasting effect on joint pain – and works to do more than just cover up the pain. Its effects last (although at an increasingly lower rate) even after you stop taking it – something traditional NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors cannot do.

The authors of the study stated, that "since patients with diabetes are at risk for toxic effects from some of the current treatments for osteoarthritis (NSAIDs in particular) Glucosamine may provide a safe alternative treatment for these patients."

SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, July 13, 2003.
 

Glucosamine - Clinical Resources

Reviews of Glucosamine Safety

D'Ambrosio E, Casa B, Bompani R, et al. Glucosamine sulfate: A controlled investigation in arthrosis. Pharmatherapeutica. 1981 ;2:504-508.

Vaz AL. Double-blind clinical evaluation of the relative efficiency of ibuprofen and glucosamine sulfate in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee in out-patients. Curr Med Res Opin. 1982;8:145-149.

Pujalte JM, Llavore EP, Ylescupidez FR. Double-blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulfate in the basic treatment of osteoarthritis. Curr Med Res Opin. 1980;7:110-114.

Gaulden FC, Keating WC. The effect of intravenous N-acetyl-D-glucosamine on the blood and urine sugar concentrations of normal subjects. Metabolism. 1964;13: 466--472.

Glucosamine Side Effects

McCarty ME The neglect of glucosamine as a treatment for osteoarthritis--A personal perspective. Med Hypotheses. 1994;42:323-327.

Reichelt A, Forster KK, Fischer M, et al. Efficacy and safety of intramuscular glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Arzneim-Forsch DrugRes. 1994;44:75-80.

Weiden S, Wood IJ. The fate of glucosamine hydrochloride injected intravenously in man. J Clin Pathol. 1958;11:343-349.

Levin RM, Krieger NN, Winzer RJ. Glucosamine and acetylglucosamine tolerance in man. J Lab Clin Med. 1961 ;59:927-931.

Chondroitin Sulfate

Deal, CL: “Neutraceuticals as Therapeutic Agents in Osteoarthritis.” Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America, May 1999; 379-395. Loes M: “Natural Medicine and Pain Relievers: A Review.” Natural Medicine Online .

Chondroitin Sulfate: its in-vitro Effects on Human Articular Chondrocytes Cultivated in Clusters. Bassleer C, Malaise M, University of L B. 3rd, International Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society Osteoarthritis in Focus: 5, Suppl A,:69. (1997)

Etude de pnase IV sur action des soses orales del sulfate articulations. Crivelli E, Voy E D. Der informaierte Artz Gazette Medicinale, 3. (1987)

Evaluation of the Chondroitin Sulfate Effects on Chondrocytes' Cultures Placed in a Pressurization System. Nerucci F, Fioravanti A, Bisogno S, Spinelli G, Marcolongo R. 3rd, International Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society Osteoarthritis in Focus: 5, Suppl A,:69, May (1997).

Vérification de l'action de l'acide Chondroitin sulfurique chez des malades arthrosiques. Rovetta G, Monteforte P, Molfetta G, Balestra V. (1972)

Rovetta G (1991): Galactosaminoglycuronoglycan Sulfate (Matrix) in Therapy of Tibiofibular Osteoarthritis of The Knee.drugs Exptl. Clin. Res. XVII (l) 53-57. Weyers W, Iseli D (1987): Pharmakologische Untersuchungen zur antiphalogistische Wirksamkeit Von Chondroitinsulfat. II Mitteilung. Therapiewoche Schweiz, 3, 864.

Effects Of An Oral Chondroprotective Agent (Cosequin) Of Cartilage Metabolism And Canine Serum. McNamara PS, Barr SC, Idouraine A, Lippiello L. Proceedings of the 24th Annual Conference of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, page 35, 1997.

Evaluation of the Clinical Efficacy of Cosequin in the Treatment of Navicular Syndrome - a Double-Blinded Placebo Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial. Hanson RR, Hammad TA, Brawner WR. World Equine Veterinary Association 5th WEVA Congress Abstracts, 3:3:60, September 1997 and 1997 ACVS Veterinary Symposium Small Animal Proceedings, pages 9-1 0, October 16-19, 1997.

Efficacy and Tolerability of 2 x 400 Mg Oral Chondroitin Sulfate as a Single Dose in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. Bucci L, Podr G et al. 3rd International Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society Osteoarthritis in Focus: 5, Suppl A:69. (1997).

Hematologic, Hemostatic, and Biochemical Effects In Dogs Receiving an Oral Chondroprotective Agent For Thirty Days. McNamara PS, Barr SC, Erb HN. American Journal Veterinary Research, 57: 9:1390-1394, 1996.

Oral Treatment with a Glucosamine-Chondroitin Sulfate Compound For Degenerative Joint Disease In Horses: 25 Cases. Hanson RR, Smalley LR, Huff GK, White S, Hammad TA. Equine Practice, 19:9, October 1997

Results Of A Survey Of Small Animals Practitioners On The Perceived Clinical Efficacy And Safety Of An Oral Chondroprotective Nutraceutical Anderson M, Slater M, Hammad TA. Proceedings of the 24th Annual Conference of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, page 1, October 1997 and, 1997 ACVS Veterinary Symposium Small Animal Proceedings, page 1, October 16-19, 1997.

Therapeutic Effect Of Cosamin® On Autoimmune Type II Collagen Induced Arthritis In Rats. Baron J, Hill SL, Rose NR. Proceedings of North American Veterinary Conference (Innovations And New Product Applications In Veterinary Practice), page 35, January 1997.

Current Management of Equine Degenerative Joint Diseases (Round Table 6). Turner T, Stone WC, Herthel D, Weinberg C, Leitch M, Markell R. Equine Practice - Roundtable 19:7-8, July/August-September 1997.

Medical therapy of Osteoarthritis in Dogs. Boulay JP, De Angelis M, Kincaid SA, Leeds EB, Prostredny JM, Todhunter RJ. Veterinary Exchange, Roundtable, Supplement to Compendium, published June 1995.

Animal Joint Disease

Roundtable - Degenerative Joint Disease in Dogs. Boothe D, Camp R, Gelfand L, Ross G. Turkell A, Willer R. Canine Practice, 21:1-4 January/February - July/August 1996.

Roundtable on Equine Degenerative Joint Disease White N, Benner E, Grant B, Hanson RR, McNitt D, Mitchell R. Equine Practice, 17:6, June 1995 Soothing Those Sore Joints. Kerwin S, Anderson M, Aronson R, Beale B, Elkins AD, McCarthy R, Sams A. Veterinary Forum - Roundtable on Canine Osteoarthritis, 14:10:55-61, October 1997.

Glucosamine and Condroitin Combined Efficacy

Glycosaminoglycans in the Treatment of Degenerative Joint Disease in Small Animals. Anderson MA, Beaver DP. Emerging Science and Technology 2:3: 38-39, Summer 1996

Oral Glycosaminoglycans in the Treatment of Degenerative Joint Disease in Horses. Hanson RR. Equine Practice, 18:10:18-22, November/December 1996.

Promising Responses To A New Oral Treatment For Degenerative Joint Disorder. Moore MG. Canine Practice, 21:2:7-1 1, March/April 1996.

Slow-Acting, Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritis Agents. McNamara PS, Johnston SA, Todhunter RJ. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 27:4:863-867, 951-952, July 1997.

Schenk RC: “New Approaches to the Treatment of Osteoarthritis: Oral Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate.” AAOS Instructional Course Lectures, Volume 49, 2000; 491-494.

Effects of the Treatment with Matrix on Elderly People with Chronic Articular Degeneration. FA, Cerio R, Grasso A M, Policicchio D, Di Grezia F, Sorrentino P, Lingetti M. Drugs Exptl- Clin. Res. XVII (l) 45-51 (1991).


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