Glucosamine

What it is

Glucosamine is an amino sugar naturally found in cartilage, sold as a supplement (usually glucosamine sulfate or hydrochloride) marketed for joint health. It is proposed to supply building blocks for cartilage and to dampen joint inflammation, though the mechanism in humans is not well established. It is most studied for knee osteoarthritis.

Benefits

For knee osteoarthritis, glucosamine at 1,500 mg/day has shown small and inconsistent effects on pain and stiffness across trials. In the large NIH GAIT trial it was no better than placebo overall, with possible benefit only in a subgroup with moderate-to-severe pain.

When to take it

Typically taken as 1,500 mg/day, either once daily or split with meals, and trials suggest several weeks to a few months are needed before any effect is judged.

Side effects

Generally well tolerated, with mild gas, bloating, or nausea most common; because most products are derived from shellfish, people with shellfish allergy should choose a confirmed plant-sourced form. It may modestly increase the effect of the blood thinner warfarin, so monitoring is advised.

Sources

• Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, and the Two in Combination for Painful Knee Osteoarthritis (GAIT), NEJM
• Effect of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs - PubMed

Products containing Glucosamine

No products in our database contain this ingredient yet.