D-Glucosamine Sulfate

Glucosamine sulfate is a nutrient that supports smooth and flexible joint movement. Glucosamine is a simple molecule derived from glucose (sugar) that functions by helping to manufacture key structural components of cartilage that support elasticity and longevity. These elements provide the body the raw materials it needed to maintain proteins like proteoglycans, which attract water to the joint space to help lubricate cartilage during movement. Glucosamine also supports chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to help maintain joint strength and durability. Glucosamine Sulfate (also known as glucosamine sulphate) is very similar to glucosamine HCL (hydrochloride) in effectiveness, because the sulfate is simply a carrier molecule for the actual glucosamine.

Another popular form of glucosamine is known as glucosamine HCL, or hydrochloride. Some studies have shown the HCL to be more effective and some have shown the sulfate to be more effective, so it would be prudent to either try both individually (probably not the most cost effective option) and see which one works better for you, or ideally simply find a product that contains both HCL and Sulfate.

D-glucosamine sulfate is an important nutritional factor used to maintain proper functioning of the joints and connective tissue. It relieves pain and inflammation of Osteoarthritis, stimulates connective tissue reproduction, and helps arthritic joints. D-glucosamine Sulfate has been shown to have beneficial results in dealing with the symptoms of Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Many prescription drugs can relieve the symptoms of arthritis, but none claim to control or reverse the actual problem. The studies done with glucosamine sulfate actually suggest that it can help protect joint destruction, halting the disease, and has a healing effect on arthritic symptoms. Improvements do not come overnight, however, but the eventual effects can certainly rival those of prescription medications, without all the unwanted side-effects.

Glucosamine Sulfate is the preferred form of Glucosamine available today due to its ability to easily travel from your gut into your joint. The other forms of Glucosamine have very limited or no evidence of their ability to be absorbed by your body and to help your body heal itself. This is known as bioavailabilty. Some of the other forms may be less expensive, however there is little or no scientific evidence that it works. Although Glucosamine Sulfate has the word sulfa, as it's root, it is not related to sulfa drugs, and if you have allergies to sulfa drugs you do not have to worry about ingesting this natural supplement.

Glucosamine Sulfate works by stimulating the production of a very important structure in your cartilage called the Glycosamine Glycans ( GAG). Your GAG acts as a nutrient base for the growth of your cartilage. Stimulating this complex will increase the production of your cartilage over time. This healing process is what reduces your pain.

Glucosamine Chondroitin and Glucosamine Sulfate supplements are used to help fight osteoarthritis and joint pains. (Osteoarthritis is the deterioration of cartilage in your joints.) Glucosamine and chondroitin are both found naturally in the body, and help to repair and from cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate helps draw water into your cartilage. and making it more elastic.

Glucose and an amino acid combines to form glucosamine. Glucosamine sulfate is a building block of cartilage, and is used by people affected by arthritis, and also athletes with joint pain problems. In a lot of joint supplements, you'll see on the label names such as Glucosamine Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate etc.

Glucosamine is a key building block of cartilage that is derived from the sugar glucose, the main sugar found circulating in the blood stream. Cartilage, a “connective tissue,” is composed of cells (chondrocytes), protein fibers (chiefly collagen) and clusters of complex molecules called “proteoglycans.” A proteoglycan consists of a long protein (polypeptide) with many side chains attached to it. (The structure of proteoglycan looks somewhat like a test-tube brush.) The attached side chains are polysaccharides-chiefly chondroitin sulfate and keratin sulfate. Glucosamine is a key component of keratin sulfate. Glucosamine is also a component of hyaluronic acid, another glycosaminoglycan found in cartilage and other connective tissues. Hyaluronic acid forms the backbone for the proteoglycan clusters. Glycosaminoglycans have a strong attraction for water. The water-holding ability of proteoglycan clusters to hold water gives cartilage its strong, sponge-like quality. It also allows nutrients to flow into cartilage and wastes to flow out. Glucosamine is concentrated in joint cartilage and stimulates chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to support cartilage and collagen. It enters the joint space and is incorporated into proteoglycans. These are cells that form large structures and attract water to the joint space for lubrication of cartilage during movement.

Glucosamine (and chondroitin) are known as chondroprotective agents. Chondroprotective agents are natural compounds the body produces to maintain cartilage and promote healthy joint function. Chondroprotective agents work by supporting and maintaining joint fluid levels to promote lubrication. In addition, glucosamine and chondroitin combat harmful free radical enzymes that may damage joint cartilage, as well as promote healthy blood vessels that lead to the joint.

Glucosamine sulfate is one the most important nutritional supplements for joint health ever developed. Glucosamine sulfate provides significant benefits for both the structure and function of joints. Many years of research have produced unequivocal evidence that glucosamine sulfate normalizes cartilage metabolism, slows breakdown of cartilage, and improves joint function.
Glucosamine sulfate has been thoroughly researched over the last 20 years. Experimental studies and human clinical trials convincingly demonstrate that orally consumed glucosamine sulfate improves joint function.

The effectiveness of glucosamine sulfate for joint health has been shown in double-blind, placebo-controlled research. One study compared glucosamine sulfate to “ibuprofen,” a commonly used pain medication, over an eight week period. During the first two weeks, better results were seen with ibuprofen, but by the eighth week, glucosamine sulfate produced greater improvements in pain scores.