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Glucosamine
Glucosamine
is a compound found
naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino
acid
glutamine. Glucosamine is needed to produce glycosaminoglycan, a molecule
used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues.
Production of Glucosamine slows with age.
Glucosamine is sometimes combined with methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, in
nutritional supplements and we believe this is not healthy and provide the
following link for you to decide for yourself.
CLICK HERE
Glucosamine is available as a nutritional supplement from the Anti-Aging
clinic with out MSM and we believe this is a very important fact as
mentioned CLICK HERE.
Glucosamine supplements are manufactured in a laboratory from chitin, a
substance found in the shells of shrimp, crab, lobster, and other sea
creatures. In additional to nutritional supplements, Glucosamine is also
used in sports drinks and in cosmetics.
Glucosamine supplements are widely used for osteoarthritis, particularly
knee osteoarthritis.
In
osteoarthritis, cartilage, the rubbery material that cushions joints,
becomes stiff and loses its elasticity. This makes the joint prone to damage
and may lead to pain, swelling, loss of movement and further deterioration.
Since
the body’s natural Glucosamine is used to make and repair joint cartilage,
taking Glucosamine as a nutritional supplement is thought to help repair
damaged cartilage by augmenting the body’s supply of Glucosamine.
There
is promising evidence that Glucosamine may reduce pain symptoms of knee
osteoarthritis and possibly slow the progression of osteoarthritis. For
example, a study
published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine examined people with
osteoarthritis over three years. Researchers assessed pain and structural
improvements seen on x-ray. They gave 202 people with mild to moderate
osteoarthritis 1,500 mg of Glucosamine sulfate a day or a placebo.
At the
end of the study, researchers found that Glucosamine slowed the progression
of knee osteoarthritis compared to the placebo. People in the Glucosamine
group had a significant reduction in pain and stiffness. On x-ray, there was
no average change or narrowing of joint spaces in the knees (a sign of
deterioration) of the Glucosamine group. In contrast, joint spaces
of participants taking the placebo narrowed over the three years.
Click here
for the chondroitin study