Glucosamine sulfate (GS), a nutrient derived from seashells, is a building block needed for the synthesis and repair of joint cartilage. GS supplementation has significantly reduced symptoms of osteoarthritis in many clinical trials.
While most research trials use 500 mg GS taken three times per day, results of a three-year, double-blind trial indicate that 1,500 mg taken once per day produces significant reduction of symptoms and halts degenerative changes seen by x-ray examination.
GS does not cure people with osteoarthritis, and they may need to take the supplement for the rest of their lives in order to maintain benefits. Fortunately, GS appears to be virtually free of side effects, even after three or more years of supplementation. Benefits from GS generally become evident after three to eight weeks of treatment.
There are some other studies reporting the clinical benefits of glucosamine hydrochloride (GH), another form of glucosamine. Despite the reported beneficial effects of GH, some investigators believe that the sulfate component of GS itself helps relieve OA, and that GS would therefore be more effective than GH.
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