Do You Think Glucosamine Truly Helps Joints?If you research you will find conflicting answers regarding this question, but most of the experts seem to agree that this supplement does help your joints heal. All of the books that I consulted recommend it as a treatment for osteoarthritis. So What is it? and Why Might You Need It?Wikipedia says that it is an "amino sugar" that is necessary for many bodily functions. We all have glucosamine in our bodies, especially in the joints, and we are able to make our own.The problem is that as we grow older we don't seem to do that as effectively as we did when we were younger. So we develop arthritis. Taking oral supplements enable you to recover younger levels of this important nutrient. According to Dr. Mark Stengler, author of Natural Physician's Healing Therapies: Proven Remedies that Medical Doctors Don't Know Studies Clearly Show it WorksMost studies on Glucosamine have compared it to NSAIDS(Non-Steroidal-anti-inflammatory-Drugs) such as ibuprofen.These studies have shown that it is more effective than the ibuprofen, although the pain relief offered by the ibuprofen happened much faster. It took two weeks for the people using glucosamine to notice as much pain relief as the ones using the NSAIDS. Since this supplement isn't a pain reliever, it isn't surprising that it didn't relieve pain as quickly as did the NSAIDS. But when pain relief occurs, it is because joint function has improved enough to make the pain disappear! In another trial of over 1500 patients and over 250 doctors that lasted about 7 weeks, 59% of the patients experienced "good" results according to their doctors, and another 36% experienced "sufficient" improvement. Both doctors and patients in this study said that it was noticeably better than former treatments. These treatments had included NSAIDS, vitamins and cartilage extracts. Our Personal ExperienceI have used glucosamine to relieve pain in my elbow and knee that I believe is caused by arthritis. I have usually gotten my supplements from Sam's or from Vitamin WorldMy husband, on the other hand does not notice any help at all from taking it. His arthritis is far more advanced than mine, and I think he probably needs a far wider range of nutrients to help his joints heal. Although this nutrient does help your joints, it apparently doesn't help everyone who suffers from arthritis, and it doesn't always cure the problem entirely. I've also read that for some people it may be difficult to absorb. Recommended Dosage:According to Dr. Stengler, if you weigh 200 pounds or less, 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate a day should be sufficient to give you improvement. If you weight over 200 pounds, you should probably start with 2,000 milligrams a day. If you are a very small person, 1,000 milligrams would probably be enough to help you.After you've taken it for long enough to make your symptoms go away, you can probably drop your dosage to half of what you started with and still get the same benefits. Side Effects and CautionsThis nutrient is very safe. Occasionally it can cause a little stomach upset, or diarrhea. If that happens you probably need to take it with meals.Dr. Stengler also says you shouldn't have a problem with it if you are allergic to sulfides or sulfates. He says glucosamine sulfate has sulfur, a natural compound, and the others are preservatives. If you are allergic to shellfish, he says it is caused by the protein in the meat, not from a reaction to the shell material itself, so that shouldn't be a problem either. He suggests testing a small amount of the tip of your tongue while with your doctor if you are still worried about it. Recommendations and ConclusionsIf you are having trouble with arthritis, you won't be wasting your money buying this supplement. However, if you've taken it for a month or so, and don't notice any improvement, you probably need more than just glucosamine to resolve your problem. Additionally, you may well save money by finding a joint supplement that has more than one nutrient to support your joints' health.I would recommend trying a joint health supplement that contains a combination of needed nutrients. One such supplement is Joint Advantage Gold, and another is Flexanol. I'm sure these aren't the only reliable supplements on the market, but we've had personal experience with these. Frequently taking a combination supplement can be almost as cheap as buying it alone, so this is a great way to economize as well. Return from Glucosamine to Joint Health Supplements
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, glucosamine supplements made from Chitin have an absorption rate of 90 to 98%, so they can help joints heal.
