Alternative
Glucosamine
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Glucosamine
, Glucosamine Sulfate
See Also
Osteoarthritis
Chondroitin
Herbal Medicine
Pathophysiology
Glucosamine is endogenous amino sugar, a precursor of glycosaminoglycans
Glycosaminoglycans are present in joint structures such as
Synovial Fluid
Effects
Stimulates chondrocyte metabolism
May have anti-inflammatory effects at higher dose
Source
Marine exoskeleton or
Synthetically derived
Efficacy
Appears more effective than
Placebo
at relieving
Osteoarthritis
-related
Joint Pain
Effect requires at least one month of therapy
Less
Knee Joint
space narrowing with Glucosamine over
Placebo
in 3 years
Reginster (2001) Lancet 357:251-6 [PubMed]
Dosing
Glucosamine 500 mg orally three times daily
Adverse Effects
Gastrointestinal upset
Hemoglobin A1C
and
Serum Glucose
are NOT impacted (contrary to initial reports)
Scroggie (2003) Arch Intern Med 163:1587-90
Glucosamine is safe in shellfish allergy (despite marine exoskeleton source)
Gray (2004) J Allergy Clin Immunol 114:459-60 [PubMed]
Drug Interactions
Warfarin
(
Coumadin
)
Warfarin
's
Anticoagulation
effect is increased
References
Delafuente (2000) Rheum Dis Clin North Am 26:1-11 [PubMed]
McAlindon (2000) JAMA 283:1469-75 [PubMed]
Richy (2003) Arch Intern Med 163:1514-22 [PubMed]
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