Everyone knows that arthritis and joint problems are common; visit any town and you will see elderly people shuffling along in pain, a sad picture, but one which we are all too familiar with.

The chances are that a close friend or someone in the family is affected by arthritis and it may have already had an impact on your life in some shape or form. It is thought that seven million people in the UK alone are affected by arthritis, although a study carried out recently by the Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) indicates that the number of people affected is almost double that figure1.

There are many different types, but osteoarthritis, affecting the joints, is one of the most common. Although the effects of osteoarthritis may not always be seen until later life, the seeds are being sown much earlier. Certain factors increase the risk of getting osteoarthritis; it is more common in women, people who are overweight, in sports participants and in those who have very physical jobs. Our genes also play a role and if your parents or grandparents have osteoarthritis, you are far more likely to get it too.

As yet, there is no cure for arthritis, but there is a wealth of evidence that Glucosamine in supplement form can help to manage the symptoms and delay the progression, without some of the unpleasant side effects associated with conventional drug treatments2.

Glucosamine occurs naturally in the body and is an essential building block of complex structures called glycosaminoglycans, which are in turn essential for the growth and repair of cartilage and synovial fluid - the joint lubrication that keeps us all ‘well-oiled’. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage roughens and the bone becomes thickened. Bony spurs form and the body tries to repair itself by producing more synovial fluid and more cartilage; but without the building blocks to do so, it’s a fruitless venture - which is why supplemental Glucosamine can play such a valuable role.
There are a wide range of such products on the market but until recently there were still two groups of people who were missing out - those who have difficulty swallowing tablets and vegetarians. The popularity of Glucosamine products has now led to the development of exciting new forms to meet these customer needs.

New Vegetarian Glucosamine
Until now, the source material for making Glucosamine products was the shells of shrimps, prawns and other shellfish, therefore making it unsuitable for vegetarians. The quest for a non-animal derived type has been in progress for a long time, but until very recently, was unsuccessful. There is now a company in America that has, for the very first time, succeeded in making a truly vegetarian Glucosamine suitable for vegetarians. Healthspan now has an exclusive licence for this product from its American developers for sale in the UK, direct to its customers. The base product is produced from corn during a fermentation process. As well as being suitable for vegetarians, this new type is also suitable for people who are allergic to shellfish or who are prevented from eating it for religious reasons. Now everyone can discover the benefits of Glucosamine.

Glucosamine liquids
To be really effective, especially for people who already have osteoarthritis, it is necessary to take 1500mg of Glucosamine Sulphate per day. This can be provided by taking two 1000mg 2KCl tablets. High-quality versions of these are now available as small tablets that are easy to swallow, but there are still customers who find taking these difficult or who want to take as few tablets per day as possible. Now there is the alternative of Glucosamine liquids that can provide 1500mg of Glucosamine HCl per serving.

Glucosamine liquids have other benefits as well. For example, as we get older, our digestive systems start to become less efficient and people who have been taking antibiotics and other prescription drugs may be lacking in the digestive enzymes and gut ‘flora’ that are essential for healthy digestion. In some cases this can lead to tablets not being digested properly and some of the nutrients not being fully absorbed. Taking Glucosamine in liquid form means that is no longer a problem, as liquids are absorbed far more rapidly than tablets.

If you’re buying a glucosamine liquid, you must ensure that the company producing it has not sacrificed strength for palatability. You must also seek out a liquid product that tastes good. The old adage ‘If it tastes awful it must be good for you’ need not apply. Healthspan has produced a glucosamine that meets the twin needs of strength and palatability, in much the same way as they created pleasant tasting ‘St Clements Cod Liver Oil’ liquid - I would highly recommend trying it.

Glucosamine Sulphate 2KCl versus Glucosamine HCl
Most products are made using Glucosamine in the form of Glucosamine ulphate di-potassium (2K) Chloride (Cl). The potassium chloride is joined to the Glucosamine to form a stable molecule and its wide availability means that it has been used in most of the clinical studies to date.

Glucosamine also exists in the Hydrochloride (HCl) form, which because it is not bound to a potassium salt, contains more Glucosamine gram for gram. This is the form that is used in better tasting glucosamine liquids and in the new vegetarian form. Glucosamine Sulphate 2KCl is approximately 75% Glucosamine Sulphate and 60% pure Glucosamine. Glucosamine HCl is 83% pure Glucosamine. Glucosamine in this form is now the subject of a number of new clinical trials3/4.

1Arthritis: The Big Picture. Arthritis Research Campaign 2004. www.arc.org.uk
2 Glucosamine: a review of its use in the management of osteoarthritis. Matheson AJ, Perry CM: Drugs Aging. 2003;20(14):1041-60.
3 Houpt JB, McMillan R, Wein C, Paget-Dellio SD. Effect of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of pain of osteoarthritis of the knee. J Rheumatol 1999;26:2423-30.
4 Experimental study of the effect of glucosamine hydrochloride on metabolic and repair processes in connective tissue structures. Zupanets, Bezdetko, Dedukh, Ostrishko: Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2002 Nov-Dec;65(6):67-9.

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