Glucosamine sulfate – an amine monosaccharide – is an essential (vital) building block of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) – major components of cartilage ground substance – hyaluronic acid and synovium (“synovial fluid“). Studies have shown that glucosamine sulfate – a vital substance* (micronutrient) – was able to increase proteoglycan synthesis and thus also synovial viscosity, i.e. the flow properties of the synovial fluid.
Indications (areas of application)
- Osteoarthritis
- Coxarthrosis (osteoarthritis of the hip joint; hip osteoarthritis).
- Gonarthrosis (osteoarthritis of the knee joint; knee osteoarthritis).
The mode of action
Furthermore, glucosamine sulfate has been shown to inhibit proteolytic enzymes and cytokines responsible for cartilage degradation. It leads to a regulation of the balance of cartilage formation and degradation and inhibits the destruction of cartilage tissue. In addition, glucosamine sulfate has an antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) effect without affecting prostaglandin synthesis. The glucosamine sulfate molecule is about 250 times smaller than that of chondroitin sulfate – this explains the good absorption of glucosamine sulfate with 97% in the digestive tract. * Vital nutrients (macro- and micronutrients) include vitamins, minerals, trace elements, vital amino acids, vital fatty acids, etc.
Glucosamine sulfate, like chondroitin sulfate, is counted among the chondroprotectants, which are used for degenerative joint diseases. They also belong to the SYSADOA (Symptomatic Slow Acting Drugs in Osteoarthritis) and are characterized by a lack of direct analgesic effect (analgesic effect). In more than 30 clinical studies – controlled, double-blind, randomized – with approximately 8,000 patients with gonarthrosis (osteoarthritis of the knee joint), the clinical relevance of glucosamine sulfate could be confirmed. According to the latest findings, glucosamine sulfate has, on the one hand, decongestant and analgesic properties for joint problems. On the other hand, this substance can restore already damaged cartilage and tendon tissue and thus lead to an improvement in the function of the affected joints. According to the GAIT study, joint pain in gonarthrosis patients was reduced by 65.7% after 24 weeks of glucosamine (1,500 mg/day). In a long-term clinical study over 3 years, glucosamine sulfate was also found to reduce the symptoms of gonarthrosis – stiffness, pain, loss of function – and prevent structural changes in the knee joint, slowing the progression of gonarthrosis. Regarding the joint space situation, no joint space narrowing could be measured in the glucosamine sulfate supplemented group. Glucosamine sulfate finally qualifies as a disease modifying substance and belongs to the group of DMOAD – disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs. A placebo– and NSAID-controlled study with 329 gonarthrosis patients over 3 months of treatment and two additional months of follow-up also showed a longer-lasting efficacy or pain relief and very good tolerability of glucosamine sulfate compared to common analgesics – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), NSAID. After cessation of therapy, the symptom-modifying efficacy of glucosamine sulfate persists for at least 2 months. In contrast, the benefit of NSAIDs diminishes rapidly after treatment is discontinued. A systematic review demonstrated that in patients with or at risk for osteoarthritis, the use of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate as a conservative measure may serve to protect articular cartilage and delay the progression of osteoarthritis. Hyaluronic acid injections showed variable efficacy, while NSAIDs and vitamins E and D showed no effect on the progression of osteoarthritis. In a multicenter intervention study with 606 gonarthrosis patients it could be shown that the effect of glucosamine and chondroitin for the therapy of gonarthrosis, showed identical effects as a drug treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. Both forms of therapy reduced the pain index of gonarthrosis patients by approximately 50%. The reduction in joint swelling and joint effusions also decreased equally in both groups.A side effect of taking glucosamine is a slightly reduced risk of disease and death from a cardiovascular event:
- The hazard ratio for a cardiovascular event was 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.80 to 0.90)
- Cardiovascular death was 12% less likely to occur among glucosamine users (hazard ratio 0.78; 0.70 to 0.87)
- Coronary heart disease occurred 18% (hazard ratio 0.82; 0.76 to 0.88) and stroke 9% (hazard ratio 0.91; 0.83 to 1.00) less frequently.
Your benefit
Glucosamine is a natural substance that is successfully used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It can positively influence the typical symptoms of your osteoarthritis such as stiffness, pain and loss of function, thus serving your well-being and vitality.
