Glucosamine and chondroitin are two naturally occurring compounds within your cartilage. These are two compounds that occur naturally in your cartilage. They are also available in supplement form and could commonly be taken together to lessen osteoarthritis pain and manage symptoms.
You can take Glucosamine and chondroitin combined in a single supplement to relieve arthritis pain. These supplements reduce pain by acting as natural anti-inflammatories and slowing down the deterioration of cartilage. Our body naturally produces it, commonly exists in our cartilage, and helps create the proteins and fats that repair our damaged cartilage.
Glucosamine is often sold as a supplement in drops, capsules, or topical forms. Its supplements can be made from shellfish shells or could be produced artificially. The scientific support for glucosamine is so strong that the compound is available as a medicinal substance, not just as a supplement in the U.K and other areas of Europe.
Supplements of combined glucosamine and chondroitin (a related compound also found in cartilage) are as effective as osteoarthritis medications such as celecoxib (Celebrex). As 3.6% of people worldwide live with this debilitating condition, many people tried using combined glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to relieve osteoarthritis pain.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin working
These supplements slow cartilage degeneration and improve joint health in the knees. According to research, these supplements are entirely safe. You should take these supplements combined as chondroitin and glucosamine may work better than either taken alone.
Chondroitin and glucosamine might stop the pain and the progression of arthritis. In addition, these supplements help pull water and nutrients into the cartilage, maintaining its elasticity. These supplements help keep cartilage structure since they contain anti-inflammatory qualities that help minimize cartilage degeneration and pain in the joints.
When you take these supplements together, they support and promote joint health, relieve mild to moderate joint pain, and help grow and produce healthy joint cartilage. Glucosamine is a dietary supplement often combined with Chondroitin to treat osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is made from shellfish shells, and Chondroitin is derived from cow trachea.
These supplements provide you with relief from pain. A study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 shows that these supplements can help relieve osteoarthritis pain in a subgroup of people with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis.
Here is an awesome video that expounds upon the benefits of Glucosamine and chondroitin:
Health Benefits
When we use Glucosamine and inconclusive together, it may offer many health benefits, including reducing pain. However, a 2018 review published in the journal Orthopedics shows the benefits may be due to a placebo effect.
Glucosamine supplements can provide some essential health benefits. It may have some antioxidant effects that can improve your eye health, particularly helpful for people with conditions like glaucoma.
In addition, it can provide benefits like:
Treat Osteoarthritis
When you take Glucosamine, it may benefit the treatment of osteoarthritis, especially in the knee. Despite some very positive findings, much evidence contradicts these claims. An early report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews concluded that some glucosamine preparations might reduce pain and improve functioning in people with known osteoarthritis.
The study analyzed 20 randomized controlled studies involving a total of 2,570 adults. According to a six-year study published in Arthritis Care & Research, cartilage loss appeared to be slowed in adults with knee osteoarthritis who had taken glucosamine and chondroitin for up to six years. The benefits appeared to be greater the longer the supplements were taken.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
Glucosamine is possibly effective for Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis. The trial involved 60 adults with TMJ who were given either glucosamine, ibuprofen, or a placebo for 90 days. Although glucosamine and ibuprofen were more effective in relieving pain than a placebo, ibuprofen proved superior to glucosamine.
Reduce Joint Pain
Glucosamine and chondroitin might help in managing joint pain. However, research on glucosamine and chondroitin has shown mixed results despite widespread use. When you take glucosamine supplements, it may offer you many health benefits, particularly for joint pain such as arthritis.
People who cannot take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like celecoxib might use glucosamine supplements as these supplements are a safe and effective way to reduce symptoms of arthritis.
Reduce Inflammation
When you use Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements combined, it may also help reduce chronic inflammation, linked to several potential health problems. These problems include heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. If you take these supplements regularly, it might help lower your risk of several chronic conditions.
Improve Bone Health
There must be more research about Glucosamine and chondroitin, but early studies show that these supplements may help prevent the progression of osteoporosis post-menopause. Glucosamine helps in reducing the weakening of bones by supporting healthy bone growth.
This makes the supplements especially helpful for people at risk of developing osteoporosis as they age. If you want to make your bones strong, take a regular dose of glucosamine according to your doctor’s advice.
Treatment Recommendations
Moreover, these supplements haven’t undergone the testing that pharmaceutical medicines do. If you don’t take enough doses of these supplements, you won’t achieve a beneficial effect. If you take more than enough, you might increase the risk of over-dose supplements’ side effects.
Initially, you can take 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin daily for one to two months. If you get the desired results, you can reduce it to 1000 mg of glucosamine and 800 mg of chondroitin per day.
Considerations and Risks
Most studies have shown that glucosamine needs to be taken for two to four months before its full benefits are realized, although some will experience improvement sooner. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not allow you to regulate dietary supplements like you regulate medicines.
Ask your doctor before using a dietary supplement or thinking about combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forget your traditional medical treatment and rely only on a dietary supplement.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should never add any supplement or medicine to their diet before consulting their doctor. Always consult your healthcare provider to know your medical history and current medication regimen. Let him know that you want to add some supplements to your treatment regimen and follow his advice.
Glucosamine produces a glycosaminoglycan molecule that forms and repairs cartilage and other body tissues. As you get old, glucosamine production in your body slows down. So you should use glucosamine supplements to fight aging-related health conditions, such as osteoarthritis.
When you take glucosamine as your nutritional supplement, it keeps your osteoarthritis in check by restoring the body’s glucosamine supply and repairing damaged cartilage.
It is commonly known as:
- N-acetyl-glucosamine
- Glucosamine sulfate
- Glucosamine hydrochloride
Uses
In alternative medicine, glucosamine may help with the following health problems:
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- High cholesterol
- Inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis)
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
- Inflammation
- Osteoarthritis
Let me know in the comments if you want to learn more about it.
FAQs
Is it safe to take glucosamine chondroitin daily?
Yes! You can take glucosamine and chondroitin in doses listed on the supplement label. However, people who are allergic to shellfish should not take glucosamine.
Can I take this supplement with the blood thinner Coumadin?
Taking this supplement with the blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin) may increase the risk of bleeding.
What do glucosamine and chondroitin do?
Glucosamine and chondroitin protect your body cells called chondrocytes. These cells help your body in maintaining cartilage structure. In theory, these supplements can slow cartilage deterioration in the joints and reduce pain in the process.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider?
If you experience sudden swelling in the legs or irregular heartbeats, stop taking the dose anymore and Call 911. Seek emergency care if you feel swelling on the face, tongue, or throat or develop hives, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeats.
What is glucosamine chondroitin used for?
Glucosamine and chondroitin are popular supplements used to treat osteoarthritis (OA) and reduce pain, especially joint pain.
How long should you take glucosamine chondroitin?
You can take glucosamine for two to four months before its full benefits are realized, although some people experience improvement sooner.
What are the side effects of taking glucosamine chondroitin?
The most commonly reported side effects of glucosamine and chondroitin are Nausea, Diarrhea, constipation, or Heartburn.
Are glucosamine and chondroitin safe to take?
It appears that glucosamine and chondroitin, alone or together, are safe and have few side effects. But they cost money and will not help you more than a placebo. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking about taking glucosamine and chondroitin.
Who should not take glucosamine and chondroitin?
If you are allergic to shellfish, do not take glucosamine unless you have talked to your doctor. Some glucosamine is made from shellfish covering.
