Glucosamine

Glucosamine (C6H13NO5) is natural amino sugar compound that is found within cartilage of our joints. It is made up of chains of proteins and sugars bound together. Glucosamine is a major precursor in the biochemical synthesis of glycosylated lipids and proteins.
Apart from human cartilage, glucosamine is also a part of the structures of chitin and polysaccharides chitosan which are building blocks of exoskeletons of arthropods and crustaceans. Glucosamine is also a part of cell walls of fungi and other higher organisms.
Why we need Glucosamine
Glucosamine is needed in our body for building cartilage which a flexible and touch connective tissue found in many parts of our bodies. Cartilage functions as cushion for joints and bones. Joint cartilage needs glucosamine because it is important in production of glycosaminoglycan which is a major component of joint cartilage. Sulfur is also needed in making and repairing of cartilages. Therefore glucosamine is needed to incorporate sulfur into the cartilages.
As we age, glucosamine levels fall. This leads to glucosamine deficiency which can cause bone deterioration.
Glucosamine supplements
Glucosamine supplements are usually taken when glucosamine levels fall in the body. Glucosamine supplements are taken orally and they come in different forms such as:
·         Glucosamine sulfate
·         N-acetyl-glucosamine
·         Glucosamine hydrochloride
Glucosamine is the second most popular dietary supplement after DHA or Omega 3. The most and commonly recommended form of glucosamine is glucosamine sulfate.
What are the Sources of Glucosamine?
The major natural food sources of glucosamine include:
1.       Crustaceans
Most glucosamine supplements are commercially extracted from exoskeletons or the outer shells of edible crustaceans such as crab, lobster, crawfish, and shrimp. Though the shells are hard to chew and digest, one can extract glucosamine by fully grinding the shells and then blending them into pasta sauces, soups and stews.
2.       Offal
All forms of cartilage contain natural glucosamine. Snout, ears and joint tissues of butchered animals contain trace amounts of glucosamine but these low nutrients and tough forms of offal are hardly consumed.
3.       Other sources of glucosamine include:
o   Peasant meats
o   Hog’s head cheese
o   Fermented grain
How does glucosamine work?
Most of the research done on glucosamine focused specifically on the health benefits of glucosamine sulfate which is a natural compound found in the human body. According to recent research, glucosamine supplements obtained from natural sources such as bone broth have been found to increase the amount of cartilage and synovial fluid. This helps in reducing pain and joint breakdown during joint movement. Glucosamine helps in formation of cartilage from compounds known as proteoglycans and aggrecan.
There is no recommended daily dose of glucosamine but the majority do best with a dosage of 500-1500 milligrams per day. You can have glucosamine alone or in a combination with other supplements such as Omega 3 and sulfate. The daily dosage major uses include:
·         Fighting of irritation to the bladder, intestines and stomach
·         Treating leaky gut syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease
·         Rebuilding stronger bones and tissues after injuries and fractures
·         Preserving joint health
·         Reversing autoimmune reactions as well as lower inflammation
·         Reducing tenderness and joint pain
·         Repairing and protecting gut lining
Health Benefits of Glucosamine
As you have already learned, glucosamine is very important in the formation of synovial fluid and joint cartilages. Below are some of the health benefits you acquire from taking glucosamine supplements:
1.       Treat osteoarthritis and improve joint health
Glucosamine is very important when it comes to supporting joint health and lessening of symptoms as a result of regenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. Old age naturally reduces the strength and durability of joints and bones causing cartilage loss which is later followed by joint pain. Glucosamine does not offer full relieve of osteoarthritis related symptoms but can do better when compared to other supplements such as chondroitin.
Glucosamine is considered as the most effective compound in treatment of arthritis as it slows down deterioration of joints when used in long-term.  Glucosamine also offers other health benefits that prescribed painkillers cannot. They include benefits such as improving digestive health and lowering of chronic inflammation.Glucosamine impact in the body is different in different people but long-term users have reported pain relief that has helped them avoid surgeries and eliminate medication.
2.       Treats IBD and improve digestion
Glucosamine supplementation is helpful in repairing the GI tract and improving digestive function.  According to research, glucosamine has also been seen as an effective leaky gut supplement.
Glucosamine supplements or natural/diet glucosamine help repair damaged gut tissues and lower inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease which is a painful and hard to treat disease. Glucosamine has also been found to help in repairing of the lining of the bladder, stomach and intestines.
According to scientists, glucosamine is a non-toxic and inexpensive supplement that can be used in treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Glucosamine deficiency has been associated with inflammatory bowel diseases in children.
Glucosamine helps restore the gastrointestinal tract integrity by restoring the health of epithelial cells that help stop gut permeability.
3.       Eliminate bone pain
People with low bone density, bone pain and a history of bone fractures can benefit from taking glucosamine supplements. Scientific evidence suggests that glucosamine helps in preserving articular cartilage surrounding the bones which help decrease bone pain and enhance physical function.
Glucosamine help enhance activities in people who have bone disorders or those at high risk of bone loss such as older women and the middle aged individuals.
4.       Relieve TMJ Symptoms
TMJ is a disease related to the temporo-manibular joint found in the jaw. This disorder is common in young and middle-aged adults. This disorder is characterized by frequent neck and jaw pains, headache,and sleeping difficulties. Inflamed TMJ can cause trouble when talking, eating, walking and other daily activities. According to scientific research, glucosamine used in the long-term can help lower inflammation and pain on the jaw that can help you sleep and chew well.
Other health benefits or uses of glucosamine include:
·         Treatment of:
o   Back pain
o   Multiple sclerosis
o   glaucoma
Side effects of glucosamine
Some of the reported side effects of glucosamine supplementation are infrequent and mild. They include:
·         Skin rashes
·         Stomach upsets
·         Diarrhea
·         Constipation

·         headache
Location: New York, NY, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why you should find a Primary Care Physician?

Image
Who is a primary care physician? A primary care doctor or physician is the physician you first seen in case you have a health problem. Your primary care doctor will help you get the best care and also talk to medical specialists about your health case so that you can get the best treatment. He or she will be involved in your healthcare for a long time. You will always receive primary medical care in an outpatient setting just like you would do in a doctor’s clinic or office. You may be looking to change your primary care physician or get a new one. Never be worried! To find a doctor near you is an important step towards managing your healthcare. Your primary physician is always your medical “Home”. This is the medical doctor you will visit most mostly if you have medical needs such as routine screening, non-emergency diseases such as sore throat and earaches, wellness visits and when you need someone to ask of health questions or conce
Read more

Genetic Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency (GSID)

Image
Sucrose or table sugar is a disaccharide that is made up of two simple sugars linked together by glycosidic bonds. The two simple sugars are glucose and fructose. Maltose is also another disaccharide made up of two glucose molecules. Human beings cannot absorb sucrose or maltose directly from the small intestines to the blood stream. Therefore, two enzyme known as Sucrase and Isomaltase are needed to cleave sucrose and maltose into glucose and fructose which are simple sugars (monosaccharide) that can be absorbed from the digestive track to the blood stream. If there is absence or low levels of sucrose and isomaltase, then a person is unable to break down sucrose or starch. What is GSID? Genetic Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency (GSID) is a rare genetic disorder that affects one’s ability to digest sucroseor maltose due to low levels or absence of two digestive enzymes, Isomaltase and Sucrase. Sucrase and Isomaltase are two enzymes that are associated with digestion of starch and
Read more

Benefits of Social Media States Healthcare

Image
Many social media tools are available for health care professionals (HCPs), including social networking platforms, blogs, microblogs, wikis, media-sharing sites, and virtual reality and gaming environments.These tools can be used to improve or enhance professional networking and education, organizational promotion, patient care, patient education, and public health programs.  Social media provide HCPs with tools to share information, to debate health care policy and practice issues, to promote health behaviors, to engage with the public, and to educate and interact with patients, caregivers, students, and colleagues. HCPs can use social media to potentially improve health outcomes, develop a professional network, increase personal awareness of news and discoveries, motivate patients, and provide health information to the community. Physicians most often join online communities where they can read news articles, listen to experts, research medical developments, consult colle
Read more