| Glucosamine sulphate has been around a long time | | | | study has found any serious side effects from either |
| now and as each year goes by more and more | | | | Glucosamine or Chondroitin when taken as a |
| claims are made telling us about this miracle joint | | | | supplement in humans. However people with diabetes |
| lubricant. Are all the claims true? Will it cure Arthritis? | | | | are advised to keep a check on their blood-sugar |
| What is Glucosamine anyway? And what about | | | | level. While there have been no reports of allergic |
| Chondroitin?Glucosamine is a naturally produced amino | | | | reactions to Glucosamine, since it's made from |
| sugar which is found in small amounts in foods. It | | | | shellfish shells, it may not be suitable for people with |
| plays an important role in maintaining the cartilage | | | | seafood allergies. It may also increase a person's daily |
| gel-like material between our joints. The body also | | | | salt intake level - something people with high blood |
| produces a carbohydrate called Chondroitin, which is | | | | pressure may want to watch. Chondroitin on the |
| thought to promote water retention and elasticity as | | | | other hand may sometimes cause bleeding in people |
| well as blocking the enzymes that break down | | | | with bleeding disorders or taking blood-thinning drugs. |
| cartilage.As we get older the body's ability to | | | | Like many supplements insufficient data is available |
| manufacture and synthesize Glucosamine and | | | | about the long term effects and hence it should be |
| Chondroitin decreases. This probably contributes to | | | | not be taken by children, or pregnant or |
| the joint problems we have all come to associate | | | | breastfeeding mothers.The United States Food and |
| with growing old, a fact that health food companies | | | | Drug Administration embarked on a study involving |
| did not take long to latch on to.Although studies have | | | | 1500 people earlier in 2005 to determine the effects |
| been carried out in numerous countries to try to | | | | of Glucosamine and Chondroitin on people with |
| prove conclusively that Glucosamine is effective in | | | | arthritic problems.There are many claims that taking |
| treating arthritis and joint problems there have been | | | | Glucosamine will slow and possibly halt |
| an equal number of questions raised about the | | | | osteoarthritis-related damage to joints, speed healing |
| methodology of many of these studies. One such | | | | of strains and sprains, control back pain and help |
| study, in Europe, took X-rays to measure the size of | | | | promote healthy aging. Whether this is true or not, |
| the gap in the knee joint before and after taking | | | | the overall rhetorical evidence is probably stacked in |
| Glucosamine. Even though the results showed that | | | | favour of the use of Glucosamine as a supplement - |
| the size of the gap was significantly larger, in a group | | | | so maybe it's worth a try - for a trial period |
| of people taking Glucosamine compared to a group | | | | anyway!Update Nov 16 2005The Council for |
| taking NSAIDs, critics said that the study was not | | | | Responsible Nutrition (CRN) says that the clinical trial |
| large enough to draw firm conclusions. They also | | | | sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), |
| claimed the X-ray evidence was too difficult to | | | | showed that the combined use of the two dietary |
| interpret.Many Vets and pet owners have been using | | | | supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin, provided |
| Glucosamine to treat joint problems in horses and | | | | significant pain relief for sufferers of the joint |
| dogs for a number of years now. They swear by | | | | disease.The results of the six-month study involving |
| the effectiveness of this form of treatment for their | | | | 1,500 osteoarthritis patients found that a combination |
| animals. While there is no placebo effect in animals it | | | | of the two supplements was effective in treating |
| is equally difficult to find well documented, and | | | | moderate to severe knee pain due to |
| conclusive, scientific evidence to confirm the | | | | osteoarthritis.Other research from a 24-week clinical |
| effectiveness of Glucosamine.While there might be | | | | trial in Europe found that glucosamine sulfate to be |
| limited good, accredited, scientific proof as to the | | | | more effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain than the |
| effectiveness of Glucosamine there is an abundance | | | | pain medicine acetaminophen.This information in this |
| of people as well as pet owners who swear by the | | | | article should not be used to diagnose, treat, or |
| effectiveness of Glucosamine. Even though | | | | prevent any disease. You should always consult with |
| Glucosamine is often used in combination with other | | | | your health care professional especially relating to |
| supplements, or treatments, the general feeling | | | | suitability of supplements or drugs and on all health |
| among most users is that it does help. Results of | | | | matters that may require diagnosis or medical |
| empirical studies in various countries have shown that | | | | attention.Bill Morrison has his own website where he |
| arthritis sufferers report significant improvements | | | | describes his own personal experiences coping with |
| when taking Glucosamine supplements. The same is | | | | lower back pain and sciatica. He also includes personal |
| also true for people who have other types of joint | | | | recommendations for people who suffer from |
| injuries or back problems. Some countries now | | | | sciatica or lower back pain including what books to |
| sanction Glucosamine as a treatment for people with | | | | buy, TENs machines, and what web sites to check |
| mild to moderately severe osteoarthritis.To date no | | | | out. |