Arthritis Treatment The Health Benefits of Glucosamine Supplement helps to ease osteoarthritis pain and improve joint health By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong Facebook Twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 23, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH LinkedIn Anita Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and currently works as a rheumatologist at Hartford Healthcare Medical Group in Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Health Benefits Possible Side Effects Dosage and Preparation What to Look For Frequently Asked Questions Glucosamine is a compound found naturally in the body, composed of glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Glucosamine is needed to produce glycosaminoglycan, a molecule used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. Since glucosamine production slows with age, some people use glucosamine supplements to fight aging-related health conditions, such as osteoarthritis. Paul Bradbury / Getty Images Taking glucosamine as a nutritional supplement is thought to keep osteoarthritis in check by restoring the body's glucosamine supply and repairing damaged cartilage. Commonly Known As Glucosamine sulfateGlucosamine hydrochlorideN-acetyl-glucosamine Uses In alternative medicine, proponents claim that glucosamine may help with the following health problems: Diabetes High cholesterol Inflammation Inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis) Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Temporomandibular joint disorder Health Benefits Glucosamine has been widely studied with inconclusive results. It may offer health benefits including a reduction in pain, although a 2018 review published in the journal Orthopedics suggests the benefits may be due to a placebo effect. Here's a look at some of the key studies and their findings: Osteoarthritis Glucosamine may be of benefit in the treatment of osteoarthritis, especially in the knee. Despite some very positive findings, there also a lot of evidence contradicting these claims. An early report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews concluded that some preparations of glucosamine may reduce pain and improve functioning in people with known osteoarthritis. The study analyzed 20 randomized controlled studies involving a total of 2,570 adults. One of the largest glucosamine studies, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), questioned these results. Called the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), the two-year study compared the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin in 662 people with knee osteoarthritis and concluded that neither showed any benefit in relieving knee pain. Subsequent studies have provided no clearer evidence of any benefits. However, some researchers still contend that glucosamine not only helps ease arthritis pain but also prevents cartilage loss. According to a six-year study published in Arthritis Care & Research, cartilage loss appeared to be slowed in adults with knee osteoarthritis who had taken glucosamine and chondroitin for up to six years. The benefits appeared to be greater the longer the supplements are taken. Further research is needed to make sense of these contradictions. TMJ Glucosamine is possibly effective for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis, according to a small study published in the Journal of Reseach in Pharmacy Practice. The trial involved 60 adults with TMJ who were given either glucosamine, ibuprofen, or a placebo for 90 days. Although glucosamine and ibuprofen were both more effective in relieving pain than a placebo, ibuprofen proved superior to glucosamine. Low Back Pain Glucosamine may not benefit people with chronic lower back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis, according to a 2010 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The six-month trial, involving 250 people with both conditions, concluded that glucosamine was no better than the placebo in providing arthritis pain relief. Possible Side Effects Side effects of glucosamine are typically mild and include nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation. More serious side effects, including drowsiness, skin reactions, and headache are rare. Taking the supplements with food seems to ease side effects. People with certain health conditions, including include asthma, diabetes, glaucoma, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure should not take glucosamine supplements without consulting a healthcare provider. People who are allergic to shellfish should check the label as many supplements are made from the shells of lobsters, shrimp, or crabs. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take glucosamine as there is not enough research to support its safe use. Stop taking glucosamine at least two weeks prior to scheduled surgery, as it may impact the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Interactions Glucosamine supplements should not be taken with the blood-thinning drug Coumadin (warfarin) as it may increase its effects and cause bruising and serious bleeding. There is some evidence to suggest glucosamine may interfere with certain cancer drugs, known as topoisomerase II inhibitors. These include Adriamycin (doxorubicin), VePesid (etoposide), VM26 (teniposide), mitoxantrone, and daunorubicin. Glucosamine may hinder the effectiveness of these drugs. Dosage and Preparation There is no standard recommended dose for glucosamine. The supplement is typically sold in tablets and capsules and is often included with other supplements that may be effective for pain. For osteoarthritis, the following doses have been studied: By mouth: 1,500 mg a day, taken either at once, in two doses of 750 mg, or in three doses of 500 mgTopically: A cream containing 30 mg/gram of glucosamine sulfate, 50 mg/gram of chondroitin sulfate, 140 mg/gram of chondroitin sulfate, 32 mg/gram of camphor, and 9 mg/gram of peppermint oil has been applied to the skin as needed for 8 weeks.By injection: 400 mg of glucosamine sulfate injected into the muscle twice weekly for 6 weeks What to Look For When selecting a brand of supplements, look for products that have been certified by Consumer Labs, The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International. While the supplement is sold as glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetyl-glucosamine, most of the research showing benefits have used glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine is often combined with chondroitin sulfate, a molecule naturally present in cartilage. Chondroitin gives cartilage elasticity and is believed to prevent the destruction of cartilage by enzymes. In some cases, glucosamine is also combined with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in nutritional supplements. A Word From Verywell Glucosamine may be of some benefit to people with osteoarthritis. It's important to note that healthcare providers often suggest a three-month trial of glucosamine and discontinuing it if there is no improvement after three months. If you're considering the use of glucosamine in the treatment of any condition, talk to your healthcare provider before starting your supplement regimen. Frequently Asked Questions Are there any food sources of glucosamine? No. There are no common foods that you can eat to get glucosamine. Glucosamine supplements are often derived from the shells of shrimp, lobster, and crabs, and consuming shells themselves in any form is not recommended. Learn More: Supplements to Take if You Have Arthritis Is glucosamine safe for long-term use? Yes. A 2016 study involving 1,593 people who had taken glucosamine and chondroitin for up to six years concluded that both supplements were safe and effective for long-term use. Learn More: Latest Research on Glucosamine and Chondroitin Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. DiNubile N. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate: What has been learned since the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial. Orthopedics. 2018;41(4):200-7. doi:10.3928/01477447-20180511-06 Towheed TE, Maxwell L, Anastassiades TP, et al. Glucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(2):CD002946. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002946.pub2 Sawitzke AD, Shi H, Finco MF, et al. Clinical efficacy and safety of glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, their combination, celecoxib or placebo taken to treat osteoarthritis of the knee: 2-year results from GAIT. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69(8):1459-64. doi:10.1136/ard.2009.120469 Raynauld JP, Pelletier JP, Abram F, et al. Long-term effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on the progression of structural changes in knee osteoarthritis: six-year followup data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(10):1560-6. doi:10.1002/acr.22866 Haghighat A, Behnia A, Kaviani N, Khorami B. Evaluation of glucosamine sulfate and Ibuprofen effects in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis symptom. J Res Pharm Pract. 2013;2(1):34-9. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.114087 Wilkens P, Scheel IB, Grundnes O, et al. Effect of glucosamine on pain-related disability in patients with chronic low back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010;304(1):45-52. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.893 University of Michigan Health. Glucosamine and chondroitin.