Glucosamine may exert a small benefit for pain and function in osteoarthritis of the knee.
Glucosamine has MODERATE EVIDENCE for osteoarthritis symptoms (PubMed)(PubMed)(PubMed)(PubMed)(PubMed)
Glucosamine has WEAK EVIDENCE for preventing osteoarthritis (PubMed)(PubMed)(PubMed)(PubMed)(PubMed)
Glucosamine has WEAK EVIDENCE for temporomandibular joint pain and may rival ibuprofen for this condition (PubMed)(PubMed)
Glucosamine has WEAK EVIDENCE for acute knee injury recovery in male athletes (PubMed)
Glucosamine has NO EVIDENCE for osteoarthritic back pain (PubMed)
There are no Informed Sport Approved Glucosamine supplements we approve.
There are no Informed Sport Approved Glucosamine supplements we approve.
Solgar Glucosamine MSM Complex (Kosher)
Glucosamine may improve pain and function in knee osteoarthritis. Supplementation has moderate benefits for pain, with studies claiming 20-41% reduction in pain and similar increases in functionality. Glucosamine may be beneficial for older athletes but is unlikely to slow progression of osteoarthritis.
For athletes, no single-ingredient glucosamine sulfate supplements exist that we can currently recommend. But Thorne Research, Glucosamine & Chondroitin is safe for athletes under doping regulation. However it contains glucosamine in combination with chondroitin sulfate.
For general use, there are a number of options we safely recommend:
For athletes, 1.5 to 3 grams per day is advised.
For recovery from knee injury, a dose of 1500 mg for 28 days improved recovery.
Other studies have used dosages of 3 g/day without side effect (PubMed).
N/A
Glucosamine is an amino monosaccharide that is found in high concentrations in human cartilage and joints. Glucosamine is required for the biosynthesis of glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and glycolipids. Upon ingestion, glucosamine is absorbed in the gut. Whilst glucosamine is a highly popular supplement for treating joint pain, the evidence is mixed.
TOPOISOMERASE II INHIBITORS
Glucosamine may cause resistance to topoisomerase II inhibitors.
Study 1: Glucosamine may cause resistance to etoposide (VP16, VePesid) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin) in colon cancer cells.
WARFARIN (Coumadin) - SEVERE
Glucosamine may increase the effects of warfarin.
There have been numerous case reports to the FDA and WHO linking glucosamine/chondroitin supplementation with increased bruising, bleeding and International Normalised Ratio.
Study (Case Report) 1: A 69-year-old man taking 6 capsules of CosaminDS from Nutramax Laboratories Inc. (500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride, 400 mg sodium chondroitin sulfate) per day for 4 weeks increased his INR from 2.58 to 4.52. He had been taking 47.5 mg warfarin weekly or four months with INR between 2-3. Following the INR increase, weekly warfarin dosage was reduced to 40 mg, and two weeks later the man's INR was 2.15. The patient continued Cosamin DS therapy for three months with INR remaining within range.
Study (Case Report) 2: A 71-year-old man had been taking warfarin 7.5 mg/day for 5 years with INR between 2.5-3.2. History of 5 years 500 mg glucosamine hydrocholoride + 400 mg chondroitin sulfate twice/day for arthritis. After increasing to 1500 mg glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin sulfate, his INR increased to 3.9 after 3 weeks. Supplement dosage reduced to 750 mg glucosamine and 600 mg chondroitin / day. Repeat INR done 16 days later was 4.7. Supplement regime was stopped, then warfarin schedule changed to 7.5 mg every other day, alternating with 3.75 mg every other day. After 16 days, INR was 2.6.
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