Diet & Fitness

Glucosamine for Sports & Fitness

Also indexed as: GS

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is an important building block needed by the body to manufacture specialized molecules called glycosaminoglycans, found in cartilage.

Why Do Athletes Use It?*

Some athletes say that glucosamine helps reduce joint pain.

What Do the Advocates Say?*

For a long time, glucosamine dominated the market among supplements used to ease joint pain. Now, many practitioners prefer to use a combination of both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Many have found this combination to be effective, particularly for runners, who tend to develop problems with their knees. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are well absorbed by the molecules that make up cartilage. They are not available from food. It is not uncommon to have to take these supplements indefinitely to continue to experience relief.

Recent research has shown that the results of arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis in the knee is no different than that of placebo. This gives people further reason to at least give supplements, such as glucosamine sulfate, a try before enduring more invasive, expensive approaches.

How Much Is Usually Taken by Athletes?

Glucosamine sulfate, 1,500 mg per day, is effective for reducing joint pain caused by osteoarthritis according to most studies,¹^,2^,3 Whether other forms of glucosamine, such as glucosamine hydrochloride, are as effective for joint pain as glucosamine sulfate is unclear at this time, but studies have found some benefits from the use of the hydrochloride form.⁴^,5 Other uses of glucosamine for sports and fitness, including prevention of joint pain or treatment of sports injuries, have not been studied.

Nutritional Supplement

Glucosamine for Sports & Fitness

Why Do Athletes Use It?*

What Do the Advocates Say?*

How Much Is Usually Taken by Athletes?

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