What are Glucosamine and Chondroitin?
Author: Carole Gayle
People above 45 years old often complain pain in their joints. These pains are referred to as arthritic pain. It is a condition wherein the joints are swollen which often results to pain when movement of the particular part is done.
Arthritis can affect any individual but it commonly affects older individual because of bone degeneration. The common term that is used to refer degenerative arthritis is osteoarthritis.
It is the most common type among all other forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis often affects weight bearing joints, joints in the fingers, hands, feet and spine.
Until now, the reason why arthritis occurs is still not known. There are medications that are prescribed but all these only cure the symptoms and not the disease. Pain relievers and anti inflammatory drugs are often prescribed to alleviate the pain and to lessen the inflammation. However, these drugs can cause side effects that's why there are some individuals who are looking for other modes of treatment that has no side effects. They often choose to use herbal medicine and taking additional supplements.
Food supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin are known to individuals with arthritis. These are substances that are manufactured inside our body and naturally help in rebuilding cartilage and in forming new cartilage. One of the reasons why arthritis occurs is because of the lack of glucosamine and chondrotin in the body which are responsible in keeping our cartilages healthy. As we get older, the production of these substances are lessened and for this reason, the amount of glucosamine and chondroitin is not sufficient to repair damaged cartilage and alleviate arthritis pain.
Glucosamine is formed by glucose and glutamine, an amino acid. It is important in manufacturing glycosaminoglycan, a substance that will do the repair and the formation of new cartilage. Although naturally produced by the body, glucosamine can also be obtained from other sources. It can be acquired from shells of shrimps, crabs and lobsters. It can also be acquired from the trachea of the cow.
Chondroitin is often mixed with glucosamine. It is also a substance that is produced inside our body and it maintains elasticity of the cartilage and protects the cartilage from other harmful substances. While glucosamine do the repair, chondroitin will do the maintenance.
The supplement glucosamine and chondroitin are often used because they will naturally help the body in rebuilding damaged cartilage. Glucosamine chondroitin sulphate is a beneficial supplement for individuals who have arthritis. Several individuals who have taken the supplement have shown significant changes with their condition. Its therapeutic effects are the same with the therapeutic effects of pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, taking the supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin has shown little and milder side effects compared to pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
About the Author: Carole Gayle is a freelance writer who focuses on health-related topics. Visit the Arthritis Pain Cure center for additional information about natural arthritis remedies and to sign up for the free monthly newsletter.
