GLUCOSAMINE FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS: HOW DOES GLUCOSAMINE WORK?
We are not yet certain how glucosamine produces the results we have seen in clinical studies. However, we have strong suspicions that it works by helping joints resist damage.One clue is that glucosamine does not appear to have any direct pain-relieving activity. It does appear to reduce inflammation, but only mildly, and by a different manner from the way NSAIDs work. So if it isn’t relieving pain and doesn’t strongly reduce inflammation, it seems likely that it’s working in some other manner altogether.We do know that glucosamine can be used as raw material for making the substances involved in joints. Furthermore, evidence suggests that using glucosamine causes cartilage cells to manufacture more proteoglycans and collagen. The body fights osteoarthritis by creating new collagen and proteoglycans, but it can only keep up for so long. It may be that by helping the body rebuild cartilage, glucosamine can reduce the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. If this explanation is correct, there is a further aspect of glucosamine to consider. *35/306/5*
