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Sources of Glucosamine

People have been using glucosamine as a nutritional supplement to help osteoarthritis and other bone and muscle pains for many years. Glucosamine is naturally found and can be added to your diet, or it can be synthetically manufactured.

  1. Natural Sources

    • Glucosamine is derived from shells of crab, shrimp, lobster and other hard shells. Since humans don't readily eat shells, this nutritional supplement is generally made into pills, capsules, powders or liquids in order to increase intake.

    Synthesized

    • While most glucosamine comes from chitin, a protein of seashells, it can also be synthesized (artificially created) by altering glucose, according to a joint study done at the Universities of Kentucky and Washington.

    Pill Form

    • Glucosamine is most commonly found in pill or capsule form and is easy to find at most stores with a pharmacy. The pill form is sold under many brands simply called Glucosamine or Glucosamine with sulphate or Chondroitin sulphate. A few pills combine multiple nutritional supplements in one pill, such as Tropical Oasis, which has glucosamine chondroitin with MSM and Vitamin C. Pill form is an inexpensive way to add glucosamine to your diet.

    Liquids

    • Synflex, Flexicose, Flexeasy, Joint-Flex and Wellesse Joint Movement are all liquid sources of glucosamine. Liquid glucosamine is easier for your body to absorb, and can be used as an additive in juice or food. Glucosamine in liquid form has a couple of disadvantages. It is more difficult to find; generally not found in the supermarket. Storage of a liquid is sometimes an issue. Transportation or traveling with liquid glucosamine can be difficult, or in air travel, impossible due to FAA security rules regarding liquids on airplanes.

    Food Additive

    • Currently, as of 2009, the most common foods with glucosamine added are juices. Some of the juices available are Joint Juice, Active Juice by Think Natural, Minute Maid Active Orange Juice and Just 4 Joints. Many of these juices come in a variety of flavors. Juices allow you to enjoy a healthy fruit drink including many vitamins and nutrients and increase your glucosamine intake at the same time. These juices are available at some supermarkets and in most health food stores.

    Glucosamine Patch

    • Recently a glucosamine transdermal patch has entered the market called Glucosamine25seven and Mendright. With the patch, glucosamine is absorbed directly through the skin to avoid possible gastrointestinal side effects. The patch provides an alternative for those who forget to take additives or with aversions to pills. All patches have a risk of skin irritation, especially for those with latex allergies.

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