Can “Glucosamine” really save your joints, or is it just a waste of money?

A friend told Huazi that her mother had severe knee pain as she aged, and had difficulty walking and could hardly squat. She heard that taking glucosamine can treat knee joints, but after giving it to her mother for more than three months, the effect was not obvious. What was the reason?

Huazi said that the full name of "glucosamine" is glucosamine, which is a medicine and a health product in China, mainly used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. However, different patients will give completely different opinions on the specific effects. Some people say that the effect after using glucosamine is obvious and it is a magic medicine to save joints; others say that glucosamine has no effect at all and it is just a waste of money.

1. Glucosamine that can be produced by oneself

Glucosamine is a substance that we can produce by ourselves. The synthesis of various tissues and cell membranes in the human body requires the participation of glucosamine. Glucosamine is the main component of articular cartilage and can promote the repair of human cartilage. Hyaluronic acid is an important component of synovial fluid, and glucosamine is also involved in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid.

The human body can produce glucosamine on its own and is self-sufficient under normal circumstances, without the need for external supplements. However, as we age, our body functions gradually decline, and the supply of glucosamine may be insufficient, causing the wear of the joint cartilage to exceed its own repair capacity, resulting in osteoarthritis.

2. Why are there two extremes in efficacy?

When people who use glucosamine for treatment give feedback on the efficacy, there are two extremes: one says that the efficacy is definite, the pain is relieved after taking the medicine, and the joint symptoms are greatly improved; the other says that it has no effect, and the symptoms are not relieved at all after taking the medicine. Why is there such a big difference?

First, there are individual differences. Different people have different sensitivities to different drugs, and there may be "huge differences" in absorption, distribution, and metabolism.

Second, people have too high expectations for the drug. In order to increase sales, the effect of glucosamine was deliberately exaggerated by the manufacturer, which made many people have high expectations for the effect of the drug. However, glucosamine is only suitable for repairing mild to moderate wear of articular cartilage. For people with severe wear of articular cartilage, the effect of the drug will be very poor.

Third, joint damage caused by other reasons. For example, joint damage caused by rheumatism, gout, etc., or joint pain caused by the adverse effects of certain drugs, have little to do with cartilage wear, and even if you take glucosamine, it will not have a therapeutic effect.

3. How to determine whether you are suitable for taking glucosamine

When joint pain occurs, you should first go to the hospital for an imaging examination to confirm the wear of the joint cartilage. The role of glucosamine is to promote cartilage repair. It will only play a better therapeutic role when the cartilage is slightly or moderately worn. If the cartilage is severely worn, the joint space may be severely narrowed, and growths have appeared, then taking glucosamine will not be very effective.

People who take glucosamine need to understand that the role of glucosamine is only to improve the nutrition of cartilage and promote repair. This is a slow process and will not produce a "drug cures the disease". Generally speaking, it is necessary to take it for 3 months to observe the effect. If the symptoms are significantly improved, you can continue to take it. If there is no improvement in symptoms after taking it for 3 months, it is not recommended to continue taking it.

4. What kind of glucosamine should I choose?

There are two types of glucosamine on the market, one is glucosamine sulfate and the other is glucosamine hydrochloride. According to the research of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Studies of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO), glucosamine sulfate is more effective. Therefore, it will be better to choose glucosamine sulfate with the "National Medicine Approval" mark as a drug.

Glucosamine is mainly extracted from shelled organisms, so it is contraindicated for people who are allergic to crustaceans. Glucosamine is different from glucose and does not affect blood sugar, so diabetics can take it normally. During the use of the product, gastrointestinal irritation symptoms may occur, which are usually mild and transient.

To sum up, whether taking glucosamine will be effective depends on whether it is suitable for the condition. Joint care cannot rely solely on medication, but also requires weight control, balanced nutrition, scientific exercise, and moderate rehabilitation exercises. The use of medications and the selection of treatment plans must be carried out under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any questions about medication, consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.