Glucosamine Sulfate by Designs For Health (DFH) 

• Helps Wound Healing
• Treats Sports Injuries
• Helps With Bursitis
• Helps With Allergies
• Reduces Inflammation
• Helps With Asthma
• Helps With Osteoporosis
• Helps Tendonitis

Read Customer questions and answers about Osteoarthritis in our FAQ.

Osteoarthritis
According to research comparisons, taking glucosamine and chrondroitin appears to trigger the joints’ own production of the nutrient which will dampen osteoarthritic pain and increase joint mobility better than taking pharmaceutical pain relievers.3

Glucosamine works to stimulate joint function and repair. It is most effective in treating osteoarthritis, the most prevalent type of arthritis. A number of studies over the last 20 years have shown this. A 1982 clinical study compared usage of the NSAID ibuprofen with glucosamine sulfate, for osteoarthritis of the knee. During the first two weeks, ibuprofen decreased pain faster, but by the fourth week the glucosamine group was well ahead in pain relief. The overall results showed 44% of the glucosamine group had pain relief compared to 15% for ibuprofen. Because glucosamine is not an anti-inflammatory drug, it takes longer to start working, but it works just as well and does not have any damaging side effects as does ibuprofen.

A 1982 open trial study with 252 doctors and 1,506 patients conducted in Portugal provided good clinical information on appropriate dosage and usage of glucosamine sulfate for osteoarthritis. For 50 days, patients took 500 mg of glucosamine sulfate three times a day. The results showed 95% of the patients benefited from the supplement, as it reduced their pain whether they were resting, standing, or exercising.

Osteoarthritic aches diminished for a group of 200 people who took part in a chondroitin study. The anti-inflammatory effect also allowed them to bend their knees, elbows, and other joints more freely and with none of the complications of standard arthritis medications.4 People with gout may also enjoy some pain relief, because supplements reduce high uric acid levels.5

Joint and Tissue Repair
Healthy Joints make their own glucosamine, which is an essential building block for cartilage. The body only manufactures cartilage when glucosamine is plentiful. When glucosamine is not made, joints begin to lose cartilage, bones erode and grind against each other, and osteoarthritis is the result. Glucosamine has the ability to prevent this from happening.2

An osteoarthritis study of the knee, in 1999 at the University of Liege in Belgium, involved 212 patients worldwide. These patients were randomly given either glucosamine or a placebo for three years. The patients' pain was measured every four months and x rays were taken of their knees. The placebo group had more pain and narrowed joints, while the glucosamine group had no narrowing of joints and their condition improved. This was one of the first studies to show how glucosamine works by stopping the joints from narrowing. It was also the first long-term study conducted.

Inflammation
Clinical symptoms have improved as early as 1 week with glucosamine supplementation and persisted up to 4 weeks after discontinuation of the glucosamine.5

Studies show that glucosamine has anti-inflammatory properties but not analgesic properties.6

References:

1. Delafuente JC. Glucosamine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2000;26:1-11, vii.
2. Robert C. Atkins, M.D., Dr. Atkins’ Vita-Nutrient Solution, 1998: 273.
3. Tapadinhas, M., et al., Chemical Abstracts, 1977; 86: 65688a.
4. Oliverieri, U., et al., Drugs in Experimental and Clinical Research, 1991; 17(1): 45. Pipitone, V., Drugs in Experimental and Clinical Research, 1991; 17(1): 3.
5. Drovanti A et al: Therapeutic activity of oral glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthrosis; a placebo controlled double blind investigation. Clin Ther 1980:3:260-72.
6. Setnikar et al: Anti-reactive properties of glucosamine sulfate. Arzneimittelforschung 1991:41:157-61

Research Review
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance that is found in high amounts in the connective tissues such as joint and spine cartilage, ligaments, tendons, mucus membranes, blood vessels, heart valves and eyes. Supplemental glucosamine is derived from the shells of shrimp and crab, with a purification method that makes allergies to shellfish unlikely.

Both Glucosamine Sulfate and Glucosamine HCl have been used for supplementation, but the majority of studies have used the sulfate form. The sulfate itself provides sulfur, an important and essential nutrient, which provides its own benefits, as a precursor to collagen and various other supporting structures in the body, and supporting detoxification pathways.

Glucosamine sulfate is absorbed 90% after oral administration. It stays elevated in the plasma for about an hour. Consequently, administration in divided doses of 1000 mg at a time throughout the day is recommended. Studies have shown the minimum dose of 1500 mg per day to have multiple benefits as shown below:

GLUCOSAMINE FOR JOINT SUPPORT
Many studies, including double blind placebo controlled trials, have clearly shown that glucosamine sulfate supplementation benefits osteoarthritis as follows:

1. It prevents the narrowing of the inter joint spaces. Studies showed even an increase of this space in certain subjects of up to +0.14 mm, whereas placebo patients experienced a progressive narrowing of it (from-0.4 to - 0.1mm) per year (data from a study that lasted for three years that used 1500 mg/day).(17) This effect is actually classified by many authors of studies as disease modifying, as opposed to typical pharmaceutical interventions that have only a symptomatic relieving effect.(1-5, 17) Glucosamines were also found to alleviate arthritis of the lumbar spine.(13)
2. It reduces joint swelling.
3. It reduces pain, comparable to NSAIDS such as ibuprofen. This effect tends to occur after 4-8 weeks for glucosamines as opposed to after 2 weeks for NSAIDS, but it gets progressively better in time with glucosamine, which eventually outperforms the NSAIDS without side effects. Also, the pain relief experienced from glucosamine supplementation lasts up to 8 weeks after discontinuation.(14)

Glucosamine sulfate supplementation is also believed to help with rheumatoid arthritis by supporting the repair of the joints and thus compensating partially for the destruction caused by the auto-immune process.(10, 11) NSAIDS are not ideal to use in this case because of their potential to worsen the leaky gut condition that may be part of the cause of rheumatoid arthritis.(8, 9)

Be aware that alcohol and NSAIDS can inhibit the conversion of Glucosamine to N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG), which is a necessary step for glucosamine utilization in the body.

SYNERGY OF GLUCOSAMINE WITH MSM(19)
A recent randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study employed 500 mg of glucosamine sulfate and 500 mg of MSM three times daily, alone or in combination for 12 weeks. The results demonstrated a great improvement on pain and swelling in all interventions and proof of synergy or additive effect in the glucosamine and MSM group as follows:

1. Glucosamine alone group—a 65% reduction in pain
2. MSM group—a 51% reduction in pain Fostering knowledge among health professionals and the public that natural therapies exist to prevent and support a wide range of ailments while facilitating the integration of scientifically valid research supporting these therapies in clinical practice.
3. MSM + Glucosamine group—78% reduction in pain, and 90% reduction in swelling with a more rapid onset of reduced pain and inflammation than for any compound alone.

MECHANISM OF ACTION OF GLUCOSAMINE Glucosamine supplementation benefits the skeletal system in the following ways:

1. Provides precursors for the continuous repair of joint and spine cartilage, ligaments, and tendons by stimulating the formation of glycosaminoglycans, mucopolysaccharides and hyaluronic acid.(14)
2. Stimulates formation and secretion of synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant for the joints.(14)
3. Stimulates the production of protective mucus for the intestinal tract, which is especially important for users of NSAIDS and those with leaky gut conditions (relevant to rheumatoid arthritis).(8, 9)
4. Glucosamine prevents excessive elevation of the COX-2 enzyme above normal levels indirectly by inhibiting IL-1 beta, which is a trigger for inflammation by inducing the excessive expression of COX-2.(6)

GLUCOSAMINE FOR HYALURONIC ACID PRODUCTION-SKIN AND WOUND HEALING
"Glucosamine appears to be the rate-limiting substrate for hyaluronic acid production",(20, 21) which is essential for wound healing and skin health.

GLUCOSAMINE FOR SUPPORT OF GLAUCOMA
Primary open-angle glaucoma may be a consequence of weak trabercular mesh, which controls ocular fluids. Glucosamine supplementation may be helpful in supporting these structures.(22)

OTHER FACTS
Other nutrients have been shown in studies to be effective in altering the course of arthritis and may be great adjuncts to glucosamine supplementation: GLA, fish oil/cod liver oil, SAM-e and green tea.(15, 16)

"Anti-inflammatory drugs (prescription and over-the-counter, which include Advil®, Motrin®, Aleve®, Ordus®, Aspirin, and over 20 others) alone cause over 16,500 deaths and over 103,000 hospitalizations per year in the US", according to a review article published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Clearly you can see that for long term care, simply controlling your pain with NSAIDS is not the solution, particularly in light of how toxic they can potentially be. Vioxx® was voluntarily taken off the market by Merck. Celebrex® works in the same manner. The main concern about COX-2 specific drugs is their potential for blood clotting—which can increase the risk of strokes and/or heart attacks.

SUGGESTED USAGE
One DFH Glucosamine capsule provides 1000 mg or 1 gram of actual glucosamine. 1-2 per meal is most often recommended by doctors. See the Designs for Health OsteoArthritis Nutritional Support Protocol for more details.

Be aware of the variability of actual glucosamine content among glucosamine products available on the market. One study found that the amount contained ranged from 0%-115% of the amount claimed on the label.(12)