This article will explain what a glucosamine supplement is, what it does and who can benefit from it. You will also find out what other conditions will benefit from the use of glucosamine and what a normal dosage is .

Glucosamine is a natural substance made from glutamine (amino acids) and glucose (sugars) . A persons body will use glucosamine to help mend cartilage and body tissues . The human body will be able to produce more glucosamine naturally when you are younger. The natural process of producing glucosamine slows as we age, which could lead to possible muscle or joint problems like arthritis.

Thefact that our bodies will lose glucosamine as we get up there in years, has lead to the development of glucosamine as a supplement in pill and liquid vitamin forms. Glucosamine supplements often contain a substance found naturally in our cartilage called chondroitin. Chondroitin is found naturally in cow's milk and adds sulfur to the supplement.

When a person is hurting from osteoarthritis, particularly of the knees they are often prescribed glucosamine supplements . Glucosamine is prescribed to help fill again the natural glucosamine that you're body no longer makes. .  Glucosamine is believed to help mend damaged cartilage that induces the osteoarthritis.

Studies have shown that glucosamine can help ease the discomfort in you're knees. Glucosamine will also help reduce the advancement of osteoarthritis. A recent study used glucosamine combined with hydrochloride found the results to be less then effective. The same research also established that glucosamine mixed with chondroitin, did little to ease pain in the knees. The individuals, who took part in the study, had better pain reduction using pure glucosamine. That's not to say that chondrotin will not help you in other ways.

One thousand five hundred mg per day is the recommended dosage for glucosamine to help handle osteoarthritis. It makes sense to try glucosamine for a three month period, if you don't notice any betterment, stop using it. Obviously if there is improvement then continue to use the supplement.

When you use glucosamine short term it is broadly speakingaccepted by the body quite well . There are long term mild side effects that can develop in certain individuals. Some people have been known to have an increase in blood sugar levels if they are diabetics Type I or Type 2, if you have diabetes you want to be intimately monitored. It's also possible to see an increase in blood pressure in certain individuals .

If you are taking blood thinner medications or you suffer from bleeding disorders, you may increase the risk of bleeding.  Although glucosamine may benefit the health for women, women who are pregnant or nursing should consult with their Doctor before taking any supplements including glucosamine .

Glucosamine can also be used for conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even some skin conditions.

I believe that glucosamine has been beneficial to my own knee problems. One thing I never do is take more then the daily recommended dosage. Please read the label carefully.

The fact that you can purchase glucosamine supplements online doesn't mean that you shouldn't first consult with you're physician. Always and I repeat always consult with you're physician before taking any supplement to ensure that you are not harming yourself. Especially if you are currently taking any medications, pregnant, nursing or you have any current health problems.