Glucosamine is made from glucose and amino acid glutamine and is a compound found naturally in the body
. Glucosamine is needed in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. Its production of slows with age of the person.
Glucosamine is available in health food stores and drug stores as a nutritional supplement. It is manufactured in a laboratory from chitin which is found in the shells of shrimp, crab, lobsters and other sea creatures. It is also used in sports drinks and cosmetics in addition to supplements. It is often combined chondroitin sulfate which is naturally present in cartilage and Chondroitin gives cartilage elasticity and is believed to prevent the destruction of cartilage. Glucosamine is sometimes combined with MSM in nutritional supplements.
It is widely used for osteoarthritis particularly the knee one in which the cartilage (the rubbery material that cushions joints) loses its elasticity and becomes stiff. So the joint is damaged and that leads to pain and swelling and as a result the movement is lost. So bodys natural glucosamine is used to repair this damage. The supplement is thought to help repair damaged cartilage by augmenting the bodys supply of glucosamine. It reduces the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis like pain and possibly slows down the progression of the disease.
Many researches have taken place to know the effectiveness of this supplement and the research is found to be true till some extent. More research is needed still doctors suggest a three month trial of this supplement- a dose of 1500 mg every day and discontinue the use if there is no improvement.