Glucosamine Index

Fonte de referencia: http://www.stoneclinic.com/index_glucosamine.htm

The Joint Health Advisory - Update on Glucosamine

Glucosamine Update - Glucosamine, a natural sugar made from chitin from the shells of shellfish is also a key component of the extracellular matrix of cartilage. These sugars have charged side chains, which absorb water and provide lubrication and shock absorption for the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the joints. When people age or get arthritis, glucosamine and other sugars decline in concentration and lose some of their ability to absorb water. Eating glucosamine has shown to be taken up in the cartilage and to improve the pain from arthritis as effectively as ibuprofen in double-blind prospective trials.

Glucosamine References - Osteoarthritis affects 12-15% of Americans. (Hawker G. update on the epidemiology of the rheumatic diseases. Curr Opin Rheumatol 1997;9:90-4) Current treatments affect the symptoms but not the disease. Glucosamine, a monosaccharide naturally obtained from chitin, has been investigated as a possible disease modifying supplement since after ingestion it has been shown to be absorbed in the joints, since it is a key component of the extracellular matrix of cartilage, since there are some prospective double blind studies showing equivalence to non steroidal anti-inflammatories (Reichelt et al 1994 Efficacy and safety of intramuscular glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee Arzneimittelforschung 1994;444(1):75-80, Vaz Al et al Double blind clinical evaluation of the relative efficacy of ibuprofen and glucosamine sulfate in the management of osteoarthrosis of the knee in out-patients.

Chondroitin Sulfate Manufacturing and Risk of Mad Cow Disease - Various methods exist for the extractions of chondroitin sulfate. The transformation of cow trachea into cartilage powder is a meticulous process. Hammer milling, followed by acid-pepsin digestion to remove the bovine protein and acetone extraction to eliminate the fat, carries out the initial mechanical separation. The pure cartilage is then pulverized by ball milling into micro-particles that average about 60 microns in size. This fine powder is dried on large racks and tested for chemical content and bacteriological purity.

Use of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate in the Management of Osteoarthritis (PDF, 136k) - The goals of osteoarthritis therapy are to decrease pain and to maintain or improve joint function. The pharmacologic treatment of this condition has included the use of aspirin, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. More recently, numerous studies have investigated the potential role of chondroprotective agents in repairing articular cartilage and decelerating the degenerative process.

The Use of Glucosamine Sulfate in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis - It is estimated that one of every six Americans suffers from some type of arthritis. The US Center for Disease control predicts that by 2020, the number will increase to one in five Americans. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is characterized by the degeneration of the cartilage in the joints, and is often caused by physical injuries, repetitive joint stress, or family history of arthritis.

Glucosamine Sulfate / Chondroitin Sulfate (Anti-Inflammatory) - These two compounds have gained widespread use for the treatment of arthritic conditions. Though initially skeptical of "homeopathic" natural remedies, our patients have swayed our thinking by reporting excellent symptomatic relief, comparable to any non-steroidal (NSAID) drug.

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