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The Benefits of Glucosamine Supplementation

By: Tara Smith...

Glucosamine is a substance that can be found naturally in the human body and is one of the amino sugars that our bodies produce. It is believed that this particular substance plays a major role in helping repair the body as well as form new cartilage. Glucosamine can be purchased in supplemental form and can be included as part of ones dietary requirements. Certainly for many people who suffer from osteoarthritis this supplement is being used quite regularly for treatment. Although our own bodies do produce glucosamine there are not sufficient enough amounts to have a beneficial effect on our bodies. Yet more and more people are now discovering how beneficial this is in helping to prevent with the pain and injuries that many joint problems can cause. Below we take a look at some other facts about this particular supplement that you should know about if considering using it.

In Europe the medicinal form of glucosamine has been prescribed for treating arthritis for many years now. However it is only recently that this particular substance has begun to appear in the USA as a dietary supplement. During the 1980's and 1990's various clinical trials were carried out in Europe by the European Patent Holder, Rottapharm. These trials helped to show just how beneficial glucosamine could be. It was during these trials that suggestions were made that glucosamine could actually help to prevent the cartilage being further damaged rather than just helping to relieve the pain as NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) do. In fact for some people who now take glucosamine supplements have found that they are far less dependent upon NSAIDs in order to help relieve the pain they feel when suffering from osteoarthritis.

Over the years there have been many clinical trials carried out to see the effectiveness of glucosamine as a medical treatment for osteoarthritis. But the results being provided by these trials have been conflicting at times. Because there is has been so much conflicting evidence about its effectiveness, there are debates still ongoing through the medical world as to whether doctors should actually be recommending this particular supplement to their patients suffering from osteoarthritis. What is important to note is that people who do use glucosamine do not feel any immediate relief from their symptoms but will only really start to feel the benefit of taking it after a couple of months.

In some studies carried out it has been found that some people who have suffered from either mild or moderate osteoarthritis found that it provided them with the same kind of pain relief they would get from taking NSAIDs. NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. In further research carried it has started to show that by taking not just this but also chondroitin sulphate in order to treat their osteoarthritis that they had begun to slow down the damage being caused to the cartilage. Many people who have used NSAIDs for any extended period of time in order to treat the affects of different forms of arthritis can start to suffer from other health problems as well. They may find that they start to suffer from upset stomachs and in some cases excessive use of NSAIDs has been linked to both kidney and liver failure. Studies carried out in respect of glucosamine have not only show how effective it is in treating the symptoms associated with arthritic problems but is also a lot safer.

This particular substance as previously mentioned helps to form new cartilage in the body but it also helps to keep the bodies joints well cushioned and makes sure that they are well lubricated. This then helps them to remain flexible and prevents the joints in the body from being damaged further.

The difference between a substance like glucosamine which is an amino sugar and other sugars that the body produces is that it does not convert in order to provide the person with energy. What in fact it does is it helps the body to produce glycosamino glycans and hyaluronic acid which then line the joints in the body. So a lot of the supplements that are now available which are advertised as being able to help treat any type of joint pain as well as chronic back pain will often contain amounts of glucosamine in them.

The problem with glucosamine is that people can not obtain it from the foods that they eat. The only real way to increase the amount of glucosamine a person ingests is through taking a supplement. But of all the supplements available the ones that contain glucosamine sulfate are the most popular as it is believed these ones are the most effective in helping to repair and produce new cartilage. The glucosamine sulfate supplement can be even more effective if a person were to take it with Vitamin C, Manganese and Chondroitin as well.

As glucosamine is in fact an amino sugar it is important that people who suffer from diabetes who are taking this supplement will need to make sure that their blood sugar levels are checked regularly.

Unfortunately as we grow older our body starts to degenerate and over time the cartilage in our body begins to wear down the joints and become less cushioned. The body does not function as effectively and so the replacement of such parts of the body as cartilage normally slows down or stops altogether. This then leads to people suffering from arthritis and the most common form that people suffer from today is known as osteoarthritis. In fact for some people this particular condition can be extremely debilitating and find it very difficult to lead a normal life. So being aware of just what benefits can be gained from taking glucosamine may help osteoarthritis sufferers gain some relief from this particular condition.

Article Source: http://www.homesteadarticles.com

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