• Glucosamine

• 19 Products in Glucosamine

No matter where you live, cartilage and joint strength is a major health concern connected with aging. As the functionality of knees, hips, elbows, and other joints decrease with age, the pain which can accompany normal movement seems to increase.

By the age of 65, a majority of Americans will experience concern over pain-free movement. And as we all know, the number of joint replacement surgeries continues to increase. None of this should come as a surprise.

Consider for a moment what we expect our joints to endure. We require them to make frequent and repetitive movements day after day. We expect them to battle gravity and absorb the pounding we give them from sports and daily life. Then, we expect them to quickly restore themselves after we’ve finished—it’s no surprise that cartilage health is a major concern around the globe.

Be aware that joints are very complicated mechanisms. Joints like the shoulder, knee and hip are enclosed by cartilage—a tough, fibrous material lined by a thin outer membrane. This membrane fabricates synovial fluid, a lubricating liquid to help the joint move smoothly, accurately, and painlessly.

Unfortunately, the consistency of this synovial fluid changes over time. As it does, its ability to nourish and lubricate the joint is diminished. Eventually this will lead to a loss of cartilage and motion.

Cartilage contains compounds called proteoglycans which are basically complex combinations of protein and sugar. Two of the most important proteoglycans are keratin and chondroitin sulfate, and glucosamine serves as a basic building block for both.

Glucosamine exists in different forms, including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride (HCI), and N-acetyl-glucosamine. The sulfate or HCI forms are commonly used in supplements.

Benefits

Glucosamine (glucosamine sulfate) benefits cartilage in several ways:

• Glucosamine helps build proteoglycans—complex molecules of protein and sugar which are an important component of cartilage.

• Glucosamine sulfate is an amino sugar which helps create the cushioning fluids and tissue surrounding important joints.

• Glucosamine not only supports joint comfort and function, it also helps maintain cartilage by strengthening cartilage structure.

• Sulfur is essential to cartilage maintenance, and glucosamine helps encourage sulfur to be assimilated.   

• Glucosamine may be especially valuable to anyone putting extra strain on their joints—such as athletes.

• Glucosamine plays a role in maintaining healthy skin by helping produce hyaluronic acid, a substance found in healthy skin.

Obtained from:

Glucosamine can only be obtained through supplements. There are no major food sources available.

The structure function claims made on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These dietary supplement products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.