Glucosamine
About Glucosamine
Glucosamine is an amino sugar, a derivative of glucose in which a hydroxyl group is replaced by an amino group. It is a precursor in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans found in cartilage and synovial fluid, and it is the building block of chitin, found in crustacean shells and fungal cell walls. Commercial glucosamine is made from shellfish shells or by fermentation of grain. It has been widely studied for osteoarthritis, especially of the knee. The evidence is mixed: the large GAIT trial in the United States found no overall benefit over placebo, while some European guidelines take a more favorable view of crystalline glucosamine sulfate. Observational cohorts have reported associations between glucosamine use and lower mortality, but such findings may reflect confounding and have not been confirmed by randomized trials. Because shellfish allergy is caused by proteins rather than chitin, the allergy risk of shellfish derived glucosamine is thought to be low.
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