Glucosamine Hydrochloride
Glucosamine is an amino sugar, is thought to promote the formation and repair of cartilage.It is found naturally in Animal body.
Source:
Amino sugar derived from shellfish or prepared in the laboratory.
Dosage:
1500mg/day.There is no Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) established.According to studies,it is the recommended dose for Osteoarthritis.
Structure:
Mechanism of Action:
The glucosamine contains glycosaminoglycan (GAG), which is vital for the function of articular cartilage.
GAG chains are building blocks of aggrecan (Aggrecan is cartilage-specific proteoglycan core protein) found in articular cartilage.
Agreecan shows articular cartilage shock absorbing properties. It does this by providing cartilage with a swelling pressure that is restrained by the tensile forces of collagen fibers.
Metabolism:
90% of glucosamine administered totally as a glucosamine salt gets absorbed from the small intestine & from there it is transported via portal circulation to the liver. It appears that a significant fraction of the ingested glucosamine is catabolised by first pass metabolism in the liver.
Side effects:
nausea, vomiting may occur.
Role:
It plays an important role in the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins (the building blocks of many structures of the joints, including the ligaments, tendons, cartilage and the synovial fluid.)
- Administration of glucosamine rebuilds cartilage as well as delays its degradation.
- Glucosamine is more effective than selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
- Glucosamine regulates cartilage turnover in patients of osteoarthritis.
