Glucosamine For Arthritis

Glucosamine is an amino sugar produced from the shells of shellfish (chitin) and is a key component of the extra cellular surrounding substance of cartilage. It stimulates joint function and repair and has been clinically proven to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and its pain, rehabilitating cartilage, renewing synovia fluid, and repairing joints that have been damaged from the disease.

Glucosamine for arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, has proven to be effective and has now become beneficial to sufferers of this osteoarthritis pain, both human and pets. The body produces a certain amount of glucosamine, and as one grows older, the body loses the capacity to make enough glucosamine so that the cartilage in the weight-bearing joints of the body, such as the hips, knees, and hands is destroyed, then hardens and forms bone spurs which causes pain, deformed joints, limited movement and limping.

Laboratory studies suggest that glucosamine for arthritis stimulates the production of cartilage-building proteins, while other research suggests that chondroitin may inhibit production of enzymes that destroy the cartilage and it also fights inflammation. There have been many glucosamine trials and studies done. In many trials and studies, glucosamine for arthritis has shown to be very effective:

? Glucosamine eases osteoarthritis pain
? Glucosamine eases articular joint pain
? Glucosamine helps in rehabilitating damaged cartilage
? Glucosamine slows down deterioration of cartilage from osteoarthritis
? Glucosamine improves mobility
? Glucosamine stimulates the production of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and synovia fluid

With the discovery of glucosamine’s effective treatment factors, news spread very quickly and the glucosamine industry became very large. However, in the scuttle to gain market share, some nutraceutical or vitamin company who put out glucosamine product in the market, do not take time to do essential testing procedures like performing lab analysis on their products, and sometimes use medium or low grade glucosamine to save money and produced glucosamine in pill or capsule form.

Products of glucosamine for arthritis are not the same. Six main factors are to be considered and analyzed when selecting glucosamine product. These are:

? Amount of glucosamine in the product per daily dose
? Type of glucosamine used
? Quality of the ingredients
? Delivery system of the company
? Synergistic ingredients of the product
? Price per day of the product

The system of delivery of the product is one of the most important of these factors. Majority of companies put their glucosamine in pill or capsule form, which is not as effective as having the glucosamine for arthritis in liquid form; it is well known that with glucosamine and vitamins, liquids are absorbed faster and more effectively by the body than solids. Absorption of glucosamine for arthritis is very important simply because if you are not absorbing the glucosamine then you will not have any relief whatsoever no matter how much you take.