Glucosamine Explained by Jennifer Cowan

Jennifer Cowan

Working out may be good for your figure but hard on your body.  By this time most of you have probably heard of or used Glucosamine for those nagging injuries, popping joints and pained shoulders.  Unfortunately all types-3 to be exact-of Glucosamine were NOT created equal and hopefully this article will help shed some light on what Glucosamine is, what pains it is meant to be used for, and the different types that are out on the market.

What is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is a combination of the sugar “glucose” and the amino acid “glutamine.”   This combination is a close match to our body’s cartilage and as such when Glucosamine is introduced to the body it travels through the bloodstream and attaches to our bodies cartilage.  The body uses Glucosamine to repair and rebuild worn cartilage and over time generate new cartilage.  When using a stabile form of Glucosamine you can create stronger connective tissues in your joints, minimize pain and regain cushioning fluids around the joints.

Why Use It?

Glucosamine is primarily used as a cartilage rebuilder so its effectiveness is limited when the pain is not due to a cartilage problem.  Cartilage related problems are usually the common knee and shoulder pains that are accompanied by some cracking, popping or grinding sounds.  Glucosamine is made for these problems and if you are using a high quality product results should be seen within two to four weeks. 

On the other hand if you have a ligament or tendon problem, Glucosamine may not be the right supplement for the job.  Some common pains involving tight ligaments and tendons can be carpel tunnel, shin splints and tennis elbow.  These nagging pains are not cartilage related and seem to get better relief from MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane). 

 3 Types of Glucosamine

Jennifer Cowan

It is important to know that there are three different forms of Glucosamine which all have different levels of stability and effectiveness.  The stability of Glucosamine is very important, the more stabile the Glucosamine you are using is; the more likely your body will be able to transfer it in the bloodstream so your body can utilize it.  Now if the compound breaks apart in the bloodstream the structure of the Glucosamine is no longer similar to your cartilage and becomes useless as a cartilage rebuilder.  The three forms of Glucosamine are: Glucosamine HCL, Glucosamine Sulfate and N-Acetyl-Glucosamine. Studies have shown that the second two forms are the most stabile and hold up the best in the body.  Quality brands will contain the more stable (and expensive) forms N-Acetyl-Glucosamine and Glucosamine Sulfate.  Unfortunately too many companies use Glucosamine HCL because of savings in cost and the benefits with this product take longer to see and are more limited.

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