Glucosamine and Chondroitin A Powerful Remedy For Joint Problem

Glucosamine is a natural substance found in very small quantity in food, the cartilage cells in the body also make it. Its main job is to stimulate the production of long chains of sugars called glycosaminoglycans, that is important to rebuild cartilage. Chondroitin is another major cartilage builder. Glucosamine combined with chondroitin, is a powerful medicine known to combat the underlying cause of joint degeneration, like osteoarthritis, the sickness that strikes almost 90 percent of the older generation.

Glucosamine works by stimulating and rebuilding the damaged cartilage. It also helps in the metabolism of cartilage in ways to prevent its breakdown. It also has some anti-inflammatory activity, but its main purpose is to relieve pain, swelling, tenderness by rebuilding stiff and damaged joint tissue that is the cause of pain. Chondroitin on the other hand help to draws fluid into cartilage, it is important because the fluid attracts nutrients and helps to hydrate the cartilage making it healthy. Chondroitins protect old cartilage from premature degeneration and acts as building blocks for the creation of a healthy new cartilage.

Glucosamine is the choice of drug for treating osteoarthritis in most developed countries, according to studies this substance rapidly reach the proper targets, the connective tissues and joint cartilage. In another study Glucosamines also reduced the symptoms if chronic osteoarthritis by almost 80% after only less than a month.

What makes glucosamine highly popular is because it has minimal or no side effects. In the study done by experts only 15% of the patients in glucosamine complained of side effects compared with 41% on drug piroxicam (osteoarthritis medicine) and 24% on placebo (osteoarthritis medicine), 35% of patient taking ibupropen complained of adverse effects, compared with 6% taking glucosamines.

How bones and joints degeneration happen, the articular cartilage that is used to be smooth, tough, rubbery, gelatinous stuff that acts as a cushion or shock absorber to keep the ends of the bones in your joints from rubbing together, begins to break down and doesn't regenerate. It deteriorates and dries out like an old ragged piece of foam that has lost its bounce, attacked by enzymes, cartilage disintegrates, cracking and even disappearing in serious cases.

Who should take Glucosamine and Chondroitin:

• People suffering from osteoarthritis
• Those people who are candidates of knee and hip replacement.
• Those people who are experiencing pain in their muscle and joints

Recommended Dosage of Glucosamine Chondroitin:

• Less than 120 lbs: 1,000 milligrams and 800 milligrams of chondroitin sulfates
• Between 120 lbs and 200 lbs: 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin sulfates.
• More than 200 lbs: 2,000 milligrams of glucosamine plus 1,600 milligrams of chondroitin sulfates.

It is suggested to divide the dosage of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates into 2 to 4 doses, taken throughout the day with food. If you feel that the pain disappear right away it is advises to lessen the dosage (lessen the dosage by ½ to 1/3). People who are overweight or on diuretics may need higher doses. You can also refer to the instruction on the label on the recommended dosage.