Glucosamine benefits – Glucosamine MSM Chondroitin supplementation and Other Supplements for inflammatory conditions like Osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis – Glucosamine pills

Glucosamine and chondroitin are among the most popular of all dietary supplements, and they are most often used to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. A sizable body of human research supports the benefits of these two supplements. Recently, however, a couple of highly publicized studies have raised some doubts about their benefits. Although it can be difficult to navigate through the science, only one conclusion can be drawn from all of the evidence: these supplements do reduce pain and inflammation related to osteoarthritis of the knees, and some research shows that glucosamine can even regenerate worn or damaged joint cartilage.

Vitamin C works with glucosamine and chondroitin to make cartilage. In addition, supplemental methylsulfonsylmethane (MSM), S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), rose hips, and denatured type 2 cartilage may help reduce pain. Pycnogenol and 5-Loxin are also helpful, and although I have already discussed these two supplements, I will return to them briefly. Why devote an entire chapter to osteoarthritis, when this and many other inflammatory conditions will be discussed in the next chapter? There are two reasons. One is the sheer popularity of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, and the other is that these (and the other supplements) appear to have health benefits far beyond their roles in lessening the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The Basics of Cartilage

Your body consists of a biological matrix that is dependent on proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Cartilage is one of the principal soft structural materials of the body. Your nose, ears, tendons, and ligaments are made of cartilage.

The exact composition of cartilage varies somewhat, depending on its location and function in the body. The cartilage forming the pads in your joints, such as your knees, is denser than other types of cartilage. These pads are known as “articular cartilage” because they are located where the body articulates, or moves. Articular cartilage in the knees absorbs the physical impact of walking, thus keeping the interlocking bones of joints from grinding against one another. This type of cartilage, along with related chemical compounds in the elbows, the fingers, and the mandibular joints of the jaw, also provides a smooth surface that enables the joints to swivel. When articular cartilage wears out, the nearby bones rub against one another, leading to excessive wear and tear, inflammation, and pain.

The best way to think about glucosamine, chondroitin, and other “cartilage nutrients” is as the bricks and mortar and the lubricating fluid of joints. Specialized cells called chondrocytes make cartilage. Cartilage is 80 percent water, which helps reduce friction and allows it to bounce back after being compressed. Two types of protein—collagen proteins and noncollagen proteins—make up most of the remainder of cartilage. (Collagen, by the way, is the predominant protein in the body.)

The researchers found that glucosamine hydrochloride supplements did yield better results than placebos or any of the other treatments. In effect, patients taking glucosamine supplements had a slight increase in joint cartilage—a benefit that was about eight and onehalf times greater than among people taking Celebrex. Inexplicably, though, people taking a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin experienced the greatest progression of joint damage, a finding that (given all of the research on the subject) just didn’t make sense.

How to Take Glucosamine and Chondroitin

One of the foremost experts on osteoarthritis and the author of The Arthritis Cure, Jason Theodosakis, M.D., told me that most patients with osteoarthritis can reduce their medication dosages and completely stop taking pain-killing drugs after six to nine months of supplementation. He recommends that patients with osteoarthritis—or those at risk, such as from years of jogging—take 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin daily. This is the effective dose in most studies. Do note that glucosamine is extracted from the shells of crustaceans, so you should not take it if you have allergies to shellfish. Chondroitin is extracted from the tracheas of cows.

Several other supplements also help in reducing the inflammation, pain, and swelling of osteoarthritis. Many of the supplements that are beneficial in osteoarthritis contain sulfur. These supplements include glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane, and S-adenosylmethionine. Vitamin C. This essential nutrient is required to make collagen, one of the proteins that forms cartilage. Many glucosamine and chondroitin supplements contain some vitamin C, but most adults likely need at least 1 gram daily.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). MSM is chemically related to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which has a long history of use as a topical analgesic in veterinary and alternative medicine. MSM is the oral form and has been found to reduce pain in people with osteoarthritis. One study reported significant improvements with 3 grams of MSM taken daily for twelve weeks. Taking 1,500 mg of MSM in combination with glucosamine sulfate was especially beneficial.

Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU). The odd name refers to particular fatty extracts of the avocado and the soybean. ASU has been found to reduce pain, slow the breakdown of existing cartilage, and stimulat the production of new cartilage. It works in part by reducing the activity of inflammatory cytokines. An article in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage reviewed four published studies of ASU in people and found that supplements reduced pain in people with knee osteoarthritis.

S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe). Pronounced “sammy,” this sulfurcontaining nutrient contributes to hundreds of chemical reactions in the body. Methyl groups provide carbon and hydrogen and are necessary for creating new cells. SAMe has often been recommended for treating inflammation and arthritis: it likely donates sulfur molecules to glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, enabling the body to build new collagen and cartilage.

Rose hips. This is the ripe red fruit of roses, most often seen on wild roses in autumn. Popular in the 1970s, rose hips have largely receded in the supplement marketplace. A meta-analysis of three studies, published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage in 2008, found that taking 5 grams daily of rose hips led to a substantial decrease in pain (twice that of the placebo groups) in more than three hundred patients with osteoarthritis.

5-Loxin. This standardized, proprietary extract of Boswellia serrata can significantly reduce symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, according to a study by U.S. and Indian researchers.

Pycnogenol. This extract of French maritime pine bark can reduce pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. It’s supported by several human studies.

Type 2 collagen. More than 90 percent of the collagen in cartilage consists of type 2 collagen. In recent years, numerous studies have found that type 2 collagen, obtained from chicken or bovine sources, stimulates the synthesis of chondrocytes. A small study of people found that taking supplements of cartilage type 2 did result in less pain and greater mobility in patients; however, the benefits of type 2 cartilage appear greater in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. I recommend the undenatured type 2 cartilage.