Updates on research, a product comparison, and dozens informative articles on glucosamine.

by Glucosamine Resource Center

Throw Away Your Glucosamine Pills and Capsules...

Glucosamine delivered in a Liquid Form Shown to be More Effective

What is glucosamine?

Glucosamine is a very promising treatment for osteoarthritis in both humans and pets. It has been proven effective in treating osteoarthritis pain, rehabilitating cartilage, renewing synovial fluid, and repairing joints that have been damaged from osteoarthritis.

Each person produces a certain amount of glucosamine within their bodies. When people grow older, their bodies lose the capacity to make enough glucosamine, so the cartilage in their weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, and hands is destroyed, then hardens and forms bone spurs, causing pain, deformed joints, and limited joint movement.

This news was first discovered in the early 80's in the European medical community. By the end of the 1990's, numerous double-blind, placebo controlled, glucosamine studies had been published, all reporting that glucosamine was indeed very effective in treating osteoarthritis, and that it was safe for long term use.

With such great news spreading very quickly, the glucosamine industry became very large. Almost every major nutraceutical or vitamin company put out a glucosamine product, and today it can be bought in just about every food store, health food store, vitamin store, wellness clinic, and chiropractors office.

However, in the rush to gain market share with their glucosamine product, companies often put out products with little regard to the quality of the product being produced. They rushed to the market and did not take the time to do essential things like perfom lab analysis on their products. They put out medium or low grade glucosamine products to save money and they put the glucosamine in pill or capsule form.

They tell you that all glucosamine products are the same. First thing you must know, they are not. All glucosamine products are not the same. There are five main factors that you need to analyze when selecting a glucosamine product. These are:

• Amount of glucosamine per daily dose
• Type of Glucosamine
• Quality of Ingredients
• Delivery System
• Synergistic Ingredients
• Price Per Day

One of the most important of these factors is the system of delivery. In their rush to the market in 1999, 2000, and 2001, the very large majority of companies simply put their glucosamine in pill or capsule form. However, with glucosamine and all other vitamins and supplements, it is a well known that liquids are absorbed faster and more effectively than solids. Absorption is a very important thing to look at, simply because, if you are not absorbing the glucosamine, you will not have any relief whatsoever no matter how much you take.

The Science Backing Liquid Glucosamine

Early in 1998, the first tests on liquid glucosamine were completed. These test showed clearly that the absorption rate and bio-availability of the glucosamine in pills is significantly less than that when glucosamine is delivered in liquid form? The "claimed fact" that pills are the only and best way to obtain glucosamine is simply not true. Pills and capsules contain glucosamine that is in powder form. It is a well known fact that liquid is absorbed much better than powder.

According to the Physician's Desk Reference "only 10 to 20% of vitamins and minerals in any pill form is absorbed by the human body." Furthermore, the National Advisory Board states that 100 MG consumed in tablet form translates to a minute stabilized 8.3 MG or 8.3% concentrated in the blood, as compared to 98% in liquid form.

Simply put, Glucosamine provided in liquid form is absorbed more quickly, much more fully, and provides greater and longer lasting relief. You see if you are taking 1500 mg of glucosamine in capsule form, and you absorb 20% of this, you are really only getting 300mg of this actually absorbed into your bloodstream. However, if you take 1250mg of glucosamine in liquid form, 98% of which is absorbed, you are getting a full 1225 mg of glucosamine actually absorbed into your system per day, which will provide much fuller relief, much more quickly.

Instead of receiving some relief in 6-10 weeks (many people receive no relief at all) with glucosamine in powder form from capsules, those who use a high quality liquid glucosamine formula can expect to notice results in about 7-14 days. As the pain is being treated, the liquid glucosamine is also rehabilitating the cartilage by renewing the supply of synovial fluid by producing the molecule nutrient protogylcans.

Furthermore, for those who do not like to swallow pills, liquid glucosamine is much easier to take.