Glucosamine… what is it?

Glucosamine is the ingredient most commonly found in joint supplements. So what actually is it and why does it make an appearance in the supplements that look after out joints? There are different forms of Glucosamine including Glucosamine Sulphate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, and N-acetyl Glucosamine. These different chemicals have some similarities, but they may not have the same effects when taken as a dietary supplement. Most of the scientific research on Glucosamine has involved Glucosamine Sulphate.

Glucosamine Sulphate is a chemical which occurs naturally in the body (in the fluid around the joints). It is also found in other living organisms, for example the Glucosamine Sulphate found in dietary supplements is often extracted from the shells of shellfish.

Glucosamine Sulphate is used by the body to produce a variety of other chemicals that are involved in building tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the thick fluid that surrounds joints.

Joints are cushioned by the fluid and cartilage that surround them. In some people with Osteoarthritis, the cartilage breaks down and becomes thin. This results in more joint friction, pain, and stiffness. Researchers think that taking Glucosamine Sulphate supplements may either increase the cartilage and fluid surrounding joints or help prevent breakdown of these substances, or maybe both.

Some researchers think the “Sulphate” part of Glucosamine Sulphate is also important. Sulphate is needed by the body to produce cartilage. This is one reason why researchers believe that Glucosamine Sulphate might work better than other forms of Glucosamine such as Glucosamine Hydrochloride or N-acetyl Glucosamine. These other forms do not contain Sulphate.

There are 1,500mg of high quality Glucosamine Sulphate in every BodyShotz sachet.