Glucosamine...should I be taking this?

Article by: Dr. Dylan Drynan
drdrynan@activebodychiro.com

 

Every day I meet patients with different types of pain. Usually before I meet them they've tried all kinds of different therapies for their problems and this often includes different types of vitamins and supplements. One of the most common questions I get from my patients is "should I be taking glucosamine for my joint pain?".

Glucosamine is a great supplement that does indeed help many people with their joint pains. To determine wether it is the right supplement for you, however, you should really understand how glucosamine works.

Glucosamine is a substance that is part of the matrix of the cartilage that lines our joints. In other words, it is basically one of the building blocks of your cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate is another such 'building block' of your cartilage. Usually a good joint cartilage supplement will contain both of these compounds and often will contain other anti-oxidants and possibly MSM (MSM is believed to help with general joint pain).

The concept behind these supplements is that if you want your body to repair any damaged cartilage in your joints, you need to be supplying your body all the necessary building blocks. Many people swear by the benefits they get from glucosamine - chondroitin.

Yet the question remains...is it the right supplement for you?

Well that question can only be answered when you determine what exactly is causing your pain. If you have a joint that hurts, it doesn't necessarily mean that the cartilage is the source of the pain. True osteo-arthritis (also called degenerative joint disease) is the main disorder that can benefit from glucosamine - chondroitin supllementation. If the joint capsule, fascia, or surrounding muscles are the source of the pain then supplementing the cartilage will not likely provide much benefit. It won't hurt you, but its not likely going to give you the 'wow!' experience that some arthritic patients get with this supplement.

So the first step is to determine what is causing the pain in your joints. Then you can better determine wether chondroitin - glucosamine will be a benefit to you. Also, if the cartilage is indeed the source of your pain make sure that you are using a high quality supplement. Unfortunately many supplements sold over the counter aren't held to high standards for ensuring the quality of their products. If your doctor can order you a medical grade supplement from a company like Metagenics then you will be guaranteed to get high quality compounds.