Glucosamine Sulfate 500mg - 300 V-Caps

New Roots Glucosamine Sulfate

Glucosamine sulfate is quickly becoming one of the most popular alternative medicines for treating arthritis and joint pain. Why? Because many people are finding that they are able to stop using conventional drugs that cause undesired side effects. Glucosamine sulfate does not have side effects, since it is natural to your body.

The oral consumption of glucosamine salts provides the raw material needed for joint cartilage synthesis and repair. In nine European studies, the oral administration of glucosamine produced major reductions in joint pain, joint tenderness and joint swelling. Improvements in joint function and overall physical performance were noted in these studies compared to placebo and/or the drug ibuprofen.

While ibuprofen worked faster than glucosamine in relieving pain, glucosamine was found to be attributed in the whole joint cartilage matrix. Studies show that glucosamine sulfate is a building block for cartilage. Glucosamine sulfate is absorbed quickly and easily. Lab tests show it is 98% absorbable and, because the molecules are small and simple, they actually penetrate the cartilage where they can help build the special proteins that keep cartilage strong and healthy.

Glucosamine, which is formed in the body as glucosamine 6-phosphate (G6-P), is the most fundamental building block required for the biosynthesis of the classes of compounds, such as glycolipids, glycoproteins, glycosamino-glycans (formerly called mucopolysaccharides), hyaluronate and proteoglycans, requiring amino sugars. Because it is a component of all these compounds, it is an essential component of cell membranes and cell surface proteins as well as interstitial structural molecules that hold cells together. Directly or indirectly, glucosamine plays a role in the formation of articular surfaces, tendons, ligaments, synovial fluid, skin, bone, nails, heart valves, blood vessels, and mucus secretions of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts.

Connective tissue is comprised primarily of collagen and proteoglycans. Proteoglycans provide the framework for collagen and hold water, enhancing the flexibility and resistance to compression needed to counteract physical stress. The building blocks for collagen are amino acids such as proline, glycine, and leucine; however, the building blocks for all proteoglycans are amino sugars. G6-P is the building block needed as the precursor for all subsequent amino sugar synthesis. The formation of galactosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG) both require G6-P. Hyaluronic acid, the backbone of proteoglycans, also requires G6-P for its synthesis.

Osteo-Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It usually has a gradual onset and begins after the age of forty. The knees, hips, fingers and vertebrae are most susceptible. The joint deterioration is due to faulty or deficient repair of bone and cartilage in the joint. The standard North American diet is deficient in the minerals necessary for proper joint repair; therefore it is not surprising that osteoarthritis is a common concern. Osteoarthritis causes stiffness and joint pain on motion.

It is typically worse in the morning. Initially there is no inflammation or swelling of the joint. As the damage progresses the joint may become inflamed and deformed. Muscles around the joint can tense up, joint mobility may decrease and there may be a grating feeling on movement. The pain becomes constant and occurs even when at rest.

Conventional treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories has been shown to worsen arthritis. Side effects of some drugs are gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcers, heart attacks and liver problems. Some of these medications, especially the NSAID group can actually accelerate the degradation of joint tissue. Corticosteroids like cortisone and prednisone sometimes recommended for arthritis, while effective at relieving discomfort in the short term, can cause a loss of bone mass.

MAINTAINING JOINT HEALTH WITH GLUCOSAMINE

When scientists first began studying glucosamine and chondroitin in the 1970s, they were amazed that no only did the subjects experience less pain, but also - and more importantly- their formerly degenerating cartilage had begun to repair itself. When they took a closer look at the way glucosamine and chondroitin were actually working to reduce pain and repair cartilage, they found that both of them were extremely important for normal joint health.

They found that glucosamine and chondroitin are both building blocks for the molecules that make up tendons, ligaments, bones, and synovial fluid. They also supply a very important molecule called "proteo-glycans", a substance in joint cartilage. The problem they found was that with age, the ability to regenerate and restore joint structure begins to fail, often due to a decrease in the natural production of glucosamine sulfate in the body. This deficiency causes the production of new joint and connective tissue to slow, causing it to both weaken. The result is pain and stiffness.

A deficiency in either glucosamine or chondroitin may lead to osteoarthritis, which is a break down of joint structure that manifests itself as stiffness (especially after periods of rest), creaking and cracking joints, as well as pain.