Is it true what they are saying about arthritis pain relief with glucosamine? There have been a growing number of sufferers who claim to have
achieved good results with this product. And you may have seen some of the aggressive marketing of glucosamine products. But the question still in the back of
your mind is, "Is this all a con?" Here we take a closer look at this product.
Glucosamine is a product that is naturally produced by the human body. It is
found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and that is the source of commercially produced product. It is claimed to have a role in the rebuilding of cartilage, which is
the substance that surrounds the ends of bones in a joint.
In osteoarthritis the cartilage protecting the ends of the bones becomes thinner, as part of a
degenerative 'wear and tear' process. This can lead to inflammation with resulting pain and lose of full movement.
The typical drugs that are used to deal
with this type of arthritis will deal with the symptoms but not the underlying causes. They aim to reduce the inflammation and to have a pain killing effect.
So
how is arthritis pain relief with glucosamine different? It is believed that the effect of glucosamine is to actually get at the cause of the problem. By helping to repair
the cartilage in the joint, there should be a resultant reduction in inflammation and also in pain and discomfort for the patient.
Although the scientific evidence
is not conclusive, there have been a number of studies showing very promising results. It seems to be particularly useful for people with mild to moderate arthritis,
although it seems to be less effective in cases where someone is suffering severe pain from arthritis. Glucosamine does also seem to slow down the progression of
arthritis by preventing the breakdown of cartilage.
If you are considering trying arthritis pain relief with glucosamine it is important that you use a good quality
supplier and the correct dose. Most suppliers recommend a dose of about 1500mg a day. Some studies suggest that combining glucosamine with chondroitin makes
the supplement even more effective.
As the glucosamine has become more popular, there have been a number of products brought out that have either
lower amounts of the active ingredients or lower quality ingredients. Make sure that you choose a reputable supplier to get your product from.