A small number of people know what glucosamine is, in other words, the guardian of our cartilage and joints. Glucosamine is an amino acid that is formed by the combination of amino groups from glutamine and glucose, is found in all body tissues, and most of it is in connective tissue and cartilage.

Glucosamine

His role in our body is to protect the connective tissue, promote cartilage production and increase the mobility of the joints. Glucose is a simple molecule that consists of glucose residues. In joints and connective tissue there is relatively high concentrations, and it serves to produce larger molecules that are important for the maintenance and recovery of cartilage. Bone tissue is made up of collagen, the most widespread protein that makes up one third of all proteins in the body, and proteoglycans, which builds the basis for collagen tissue.

Arthritis is a general term for a large number of diseases that lead to connective tissue inflammation or degeneration of the joint cartilage.

If you’ve ever had problems with your joints, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, or you suffer from arthritis, one of the inevitable therapies is – glucosamine. In people with diagnosed arthritis, glucosamine relieves pain and inflammation, increases the volume of movement and helps in the recovery of injured as well as the joints of older people. It also works well when the disease is affected by knees, hips, spine and hands.

Did you know?

Recent studies show that glucosamine in relieving pain more effective than NSAIDs (like Andol, aspirin, Voltaren), which patients often taken, but it doesn’t have harmful side effects as they do.

Scientists believe sulfate as part of glucosamine sulphate is extremely important. Sulfate is needed for the cartilage production. This is one of the reasons why glucosamine sulfate is considered to be more effective than other glucosamine forms, such as glucosamine hydrochloride or N-acetyl glucosamine.

Glucosamine is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, allergies, chronic venous insufficiency, sports injuries, jaw problems, chronic lower back pain, and so on.

Where do we fin Glucosamine?

The main and largest source of glucosamine is the hitin from shellfish shells and crabs. Scientists have found that 95% of orally administered glucosamine is absorbed intact through the intestine wall, and about 30% of the administered amount of the body is stored for later synthesis of additional connective tissue.

Chondroitin

Chondroitin sulfate is a complex carbohydrate and is present in the joint cartilage. Kondroin sulfate creates the cartilage cells we call – chondrocytes.

His role in joints is:

• providing hinge fluid,
• nourishes hinged structures,
• protects against mechanical damage and
• protects the cartilage from premature decay.

Chondroitin prevents the formation of enzymes that damage the connective tissues. As the body is old, the production and concentration of chondrosium is reduced, which results in weaker and worse joints.

Clinical studies have shown that regular use of chondroitin preparations increases joint mobility and reduces pain.

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Author: Ema Brajdić, IFBB Bikini