Glucosamine is one of the most popular nutritional supplements in the world - and for good reason. It contributes towards developing and maintaining healthy cartilage. Glucosamine also keeps joints supple through better lubrication.

The advantages of our glucosamine:

• Supplied as glucosamine sulphate, the form of glucosamine most tested and used.
• High, correct dosage: 1500 mg glucosamine sulphate a day (1190 mg of glucosamine base). This is the dosage adopted in successful scientific studies.
• Produced by a prominent West European manufacturer of nutritional supplements, who fulfils strict GMP and HAACP requirements.
• Quality tested by an independent laboratory.
• A price that is lower than usual: € 21,90 per bottle (for 3 months of use). Volume discounts at 3, 6 and 12 units.
• Delivery in capsule form. The advantage of capsules over tablets: faster absorption by the body and therefore easier on the stomach.
• The capsule can also be opened and the glucosamine powder then dissolved in water, fruit juice or a dairy product.

Glucosamine is a substance that occurs naturally in the body. It is an important building block in the human body. Glucosamine is used in building and maintaining cartilage, joint casings, tendons and other connective tissues. It also contributes to maintaining joint fluid. Glucosamine created by the body can be supplemented by additional glucosamine in the form of a nutritional supplement.

Athletes and elderly people

Glucosamine is ideal for protecting the joint cartilage of athletes which are train and perform under stress from sports (endurance or power).

It can also be used by elderly people to protect their joint cartilage in daily life. For them the effect of the supplement is generally noticed within a month. It may be noticeable even sooner, such as within a week. On the other hand, it may also take up to several months. This differs for each individual.

The protection provided by glucosamine lasts for some time (usually several weeks) after one stops taking it. After this period, however, the protection dwindles. Most people, therefore, take glucosamine without interruption.

Studies of long-term use (3 years) have revealed no serious side effects. Use for longer periods of time has not been studied in terms of safety. There are, however, no indications that uninterrupted use of this supplement would cause more side effects than the slight side effects that some people experience during the first weeks they take it. Glucosamine has been available for a good 30 years as a nutritional supplement outside the scientific setting. Serious side effects have not been reported at any time during this period.

Glucosamine and chondroitin

Glucosamine can be combined with chondroitin for even better physiological effect. This supplement is available as a separate product from Glucosamine.com. Chondroitin has a strong protective effect on its own, but it is known above all for amplifying the effect of glucosamine. The superiority of this combination is substantiated by scientific research: a major independent US GAIT study in 2005.

Quality

If you opt for glucosamine from Glucosamine.com, you are choosing quality. We guarantee this quality as follows:

• Production by a prominent West European manufacturer of nutritional supplements, who fulfils strict GMP and HAACP requirements. This means that the manufacturer follows procedures that guarantee food safety and hygiene.
• Purity. All our supplements are checked for contaminants by an independent laboratory.
• Correct, high dosages, based on scientific studies. You can read more on this topic below.
• Supplied in capsule form for faster absorption than with tablets. Faster absorption implies that there is a lower chance of hypersensitivity of the stomach. In addition scientists believe that faster absorption strengthens the physiological effect of glucosamine.

Correct, high dosage

Glucosamine sulphate is frequently taken in doses that are too low. This generally happens due to ignorance.

The world (industry) of nutritional supplements has grown in leaps and bounds in the past decades. Previously this was the terrain of pioneers in the field of nutrition and health. Among these was our sister company Glucosamine.com, active since 2000. At the moment there are also a number of 'entrepreneurs' in this market who have little affinity with the philosophy it all started with.

Scientific research has shown that 1500 mg glucosamine sulphate per day (1190 mg glucosamine base) is an effective dose. A provider which does not have a strong knowledge of the product glucosamine sulphate will not know that glucosamine sulphate is stabilised with a salt. If he fails to take this into account, he will supply 1500 mg including the salt, which is too low a quantity.

Glucosamine.com pointed out this problem on their website as early as the beginning of 2002. Only since 2006 have glucosamine suppliers been required to indicate the quantity of glucosamine base (glucosamine without chemical binders) on the label, so that the consumer can see exactly what he or she is buying. But there are still suppliers who provide too low a dosage. Generally this is due to a lack of knowledge.

Glucosamine.com on the other hand specialises in the field of joint protection and glucosamine. You are guaranteed to get the correct dose from us.

Drug interactions

Anticoagulants

Glucosamine can have an influence on the effect of vitamin K antagonists. These are anticoagulant coumarin-based medicines (marcoumar, coumadin, fenprocoumon, acenocoumarol, and warfarin). Do not take this supplement in combination with this type of medication without consulting a doctor. Other blood thinners do not pose a problem.

Antibiotics

Do not take glucosamine at the same time as any antibiotics. It can negatively affect the efficacy of some antibiotics. For this reason, we recommend waiting at least three hours between taking glucosamine and your antibiotics.

Warnings

Allergy to shellfish

Glucosamine is harvested from the shells of shellfish. Some people are allergic to the flesh of shellfish. Even though the flesh is removed prior to using the shell, an allergic reaction cannot be completely excluded.

Elevated eyeball pressure

Studies have shown that the use of glucosamine can lead to an increase in eyeball pressure in people who already suffer from elevated eyeball pressure. This increase is not extensive - 1 to 2 mmHg on average - but we still advise people who suffer from elevated eyeball pressure not to use glucosamine or to have their eyeball pressure measured during use.

Important: this indication only applies to people who already suffer from elevated eyeball pressure. There is no evidence that glucosamine can lead to an increase in eyeball pressure in others.

Should you be looking for an alternative to glucosamine, try chondroitin.

Hypersensitivity of the stomach and digestive system

Glucosamine is a substance that occurs naturally in the body. Serious side effects have never been noted. Minor side effects that some people experience are generally related to hypersensitivity of the stomach and digestive system. In these cases nausea and excessive gastric acid are usually involved. Less frequently, constipation or even diarrhea can occur. Generally nausea and excessive gastric acid can be prevented by taking the supplement with one or two glasses of water or by eating something at the same time.

Cholesterol

At the end of 2004 a study was conducted in Denmark on the effect of glucosamine on cholesterol levels. The reason for the study was that some users had noted an increase in their blood cholesterol content. In the study, 140,000 people in Denmark were prescribed glucosamine between September 2003 and September 2004. During this period 6 cases of higher cholesterol were reported that appeared to be associated with the use of glucosamine.

It seems that a small number of people react to glucosamine supplements with an increase in cholesterol levels. Once they stop taking it, the cholesterol levels fall again.

Restricted potassium diet

Glucosamine sulphate is stabilised with potassium chloride. The dose for one day (2 capsules) contains 268 mg of potassium. This is a little more than the quantity of potassium in half of a banana or 4 slices of whole grain bread. In the case of individuals with seriously impaired kidney function a higher intake of potassium can, however, have adverse effects. Individuals taking drugs to reduce potassium levels should restrict their potassium intake.

Pregnancy/breastfeeding

Do not use glucosamine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. The supplement has an extremely favourable safety profile, but no studies have been conducted that exclude possible adverse effects on the (unborn) child.

Use by younger people

The use of glucosamine sulphate by children and young adults is not advised. A fundamental point is that glucosamine sulphate supplements should not be started before the body is fully grown. ‘Fully grown’ is taken to mean both skeletal development and hormonal development. The reason that we recommend this is that no studies have been conducted regarding the safety of this supplement for children and young adults.

Quality tested annually by independent laboratory. View the laboratory analysis (.pdf)