Glucosamine For Your Joints. Does It Really Work?

Many people have been taking glucosamine for years to help treat osteoarthritis of the knee and other joints. In fact there are many advertisements and TV commercials promoting this wonder supplement. But is it really working? Recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona Arthritis Center just found that a standard dose of 1500 mg a day of glucosamine did not relieve pain, did not improve joint function or reduce damage to cartilage any more than a placebo. However, a recent European study of the supplement has broken it down a bit more.

There are actually two types of glucosamine supplements, glucosamine HCI and glucosamine sulfate. What they found was that glucosamine HCI seemed to support the findings of the University of Arizona Arthritis Center. But they found that glucosamine sulfate did support findings of reduced joint pain and reduced joint function with the standard dose of 1500 mg a day. (This is actually what I have been taking for years and I personally believe in it’s reduction of joint ailments.)

So… Make sure that if you are taking glucosamine for joint pain that you are taking glucosamine sulfate, not glucosamine HCI. Also be aware that glucosamine sulfate is harder to find as most stores and most stores only carry glucosamine HCI and most “joint remedies” only contain glucosamine HCI, not glucosamine sulfate.