Glucosamine has applications across several industries, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, food and beverage, etc. It has numerous health benefits and minimal side effects. However, its abuse may lead to life-threatening consequences.
At Supplements101, we strive to be the information hub of all things supplements. Hence, we have put together all the essential glucosamine statistics and facts to help you better understand this intriguing substance.
But first, let’s take a quick look at our choice of the most impressive stats and facts about glucosamine.
Top 10 Glucosamine Statistics and Facts
- Glucosamine is naturally found in the body of humans and the shells of shellfish.
- Glucosamine helps in the formation and repair of cartilage.
- Glucosamine sulfate is the most important form of glucosamine.
- Older adults are more likely to suffer from glucosamine defects.
- Glucosamine has benefits in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA).
- Glucosamine can help treat bladder conditions such as interstitial cystitis.
- Glucosamine has health benefits in the treatment of scars on the skin.
- Those with allergic reactions to shellfish could also be allergic to glucosamine.
- The global glucosamine supplement market could reach $1.54 billion by 2025.
- With a market share of 41.3%, North America is the largest glucosamine market worldwide.
General Glucosamine Facts
1. Glucosamine is naturally found in the body of humans and the shells of shellfish.
(Healthline)
However, glucosamine can also be made in a laboratory. Unlike vitamins that we get from various food sources, glucosamine occurs naturally only in our body and shellfish shells.
2. Our body uses glucosamine in the formation of connective tissues.
(Science Direct)
Glucosamine and bodybuilding go well together as the substance aids the formation of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins in the body. The body needs these substances to form connective tissues such as ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.
3. Glucosamine helps form the cartilage as well as repair it.
(NCBI)
Cartilage is a form of connective tissue found mainly in the joints. Around 65–80% of cartilage is composed of water, and the rest consists of non-collagenous proteins, proteoglycans, and collagens.
One of the essential glucosamine benefits is the presence of proteoglycans in the cartilage matrix that gives it the ability to heal after damage. Glucosamine also protects the collagens in cartilage from damage.
4. Glucosamine sulfate is the most important type of glucosamine.
(RxList)
The research on glucosamine sulfate shows that 50 million people visit their doctors yearly due to joint pains caused by cartilage deterioration.
While there are other forms of glucosamine (glucosamine hydrochloride and N-acetyl glucosamine), research has shown that the presence of sulfate helps the body form cartilage.
5. Older adults are more likely to suffer from glucosamine defects.
(Medical News Today)
The research on glucosamine absorption shows that the body’s production of the substance decreases with age.
Because glucosamine is an essential part of the functionality of cartilage and other connective tissues in the body, older people are more susceptible to issues such as inflammation, joint pain, osteoarthritis, etc.
6. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are integral to the health of the cartilage.
(NCCIH)
Using glucosamine for joint pain could be useful, as both chondroitin and glucosamine are found in abundance in the cartilage structure. They both play crucial roles in the formation, repair, and protection of the cartilage.
Chondroitin gives the cartilage its elasticity and inhibits enzymes that cause its deterioration, and glucosamine helps form new cartilage in case of any damage.
Statistics on the Benefits of Glucosamine
7. Some glucosamine supplement products have benefits in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA).
(Healthline)
Osteoarthritis is a condition that could lead to the deterioration of the cartilage in the joints (knee, hip, fingers, etc.). This causes bones to glide against one another, limiting movement and causing pain in the knee and other joints.
Due to glucosamine’s ability to protect and restore damaged cartilage, some doctors recommend taking glucosamine-based arthritis supplements to treat osteoarthritis.
8. Glucosamine can help with weight loss.
(RxList)
Glucosamine aids weight loss by preventing the accumulation of lipids in the body and developing new fat cells into mature fat cells.
With the intake of glucosamine and insulin, abnormal leptin levels are reduced, reducing weight gain in an overweight person.
9. Glucosamine use may increase the risk of eye complications such as glaucoma.
(Rheumatology Network)
Glucosamine is needed for the formation of glycosaminoglycans (GAG). One of the functions of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) is the regulation of aqueous flow in the eyes.
Statistics on glucosamine and its side effects show that the use of this substance may trigger the excessive formation of GAG. This will, in turn, affect the regulation of fluid in the eyes, thereby increasing intraocular eye pressure (IOP).
An increase in IOP can lead to other eye-related health issues, like glaucoma.
10. Glucosamine can help treat interstitial cystitis and other bladder conditions.
(RxList)
Interstitial cystitis is a sickness that occurs in the bladder due to a lack of glycosaminoglycans, causing pains in the bladder and pelvic area alongside frequent urination.
According to the glucosamine statistics, the presence of glucosamine in the bladder can help to promote bladder health and support the protective layer (muscle area) of the bladder. This results in a concomitant reduction in the effects of interstitial cystitis.
11. One of the glucosamine supplements’ benefits is that it can help treat jaw pain.
(RxList)
People with a temporomandibular joint problem (TMJ—the joint that connects your skull with your lower jaw) will normally feel pains around the jaw joint. This can also lead to a limited movement of the jaw, causing trouble with chewing.
The research on supplementing glucosamine has shown that glucosamine aids the repair of damaged cartilages around the TMJ, thereby improving the overall jaw movement.
12. Glucosamine can help treat multiple sclerosis (MS).
(RxList)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that occurs due to damage done to the central nervous system through the myelin (a material that protects your nerve fibers) by the immune system.
The research on glucosamine function shows that the use of glucosamine can inhibit the growth and functions of abnormal immune cells responsible for damaging the protective nerve fibers.
13. Glucosamine helps in the treatment of scars.
(ResearchGate)
Glucosamine cream can aid the formation of connective tissue, thereby accelerating wound healing processes. Moreover, glucosamine can promote exfoliation (removal of dead skin) and improve skin hydration.
Glucosamine Use Statistics
14. Glucosamine may raise blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
(RxList)
People with diabetes who take glucosamine supplements for osteoarthritis or other joint pains should regularly check their blood sugar levels. Namely, the supplements may increase blood sugar levels in people with a history of diabetes. This is due to the inability of their body to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar.
15. Those with allergic reactions to shellfish could also be allergic to glucosamine.
(RxList)
According to the statistics on glucosamine food sources, shellfish (such as shrimp, lobsters, etc.) are the primary source of glucosamine in supplements.
Experts advise that people who are allergic to shellfish check the labels when making purchases to verify the source of glucosamine in the supplement.
16. Glucosamine use may slow blood clotting in people with a blood clotting disorder.
(RxList)
Chondroitin, glucosamine, and MSM have benefits when it comes to blood clotting. Consequently, these substances react with blood-thinning drugs like warfarin. The blood-thinning effect becomes stronger, which may lead to internal bleeding.
17. Excessive use of glucosamine may raise cholesterol levels in individuals.
(MedicineNet)
When it comes to proper glucosamine dosage, the statistics reveal that excessive use of the substance is associated with increased insulin levels. Studies also show a direct relationship between high insulin and cholesterol levels.
Even though there’s not enough evidence to back these claims, experts advise that people with pre-existing conditions avoid using these supplements.
18. Long term use of glucosamine supplements decreases your chances of having a heart attack.
(Pain News Network)
Research on the efficiency of glucosamine in treating heart disease revealed that people who regularly took the supplements had a 22% lower risk of a heart attack.
What’s more, glucosamine statistics show that the risk of a possible heart attack in smokers supplementing glucosamine is lower compared to non-smokers.
Statistics on Glucosamine Supplements
19. The global glucosamine supplement market could reach $1.54 billion by 2025.
(IndustryArc)
The glucosamine sales statistics show that this substance has applications across many industries worldwide. They are extensively sold as dairy products, dietary supplements, and medications for certain health conditions like arthritis.
The high demand for glucosamine and chondroitin supplements in regions like North America, Asia, and Europe increases the global glucosamine market size.
20. Statistics on the glucosamine market size show that North America has a market share of 41.3%, making it the largest glucosamine market globally.
(IndustryArc)
The high rate of consumption of both glucosamine and chondroitin in North America, due to their perceived benefits in the treatment of osteoarthritis (a prevalent condition in North America), is helping to drive the growth of the market, as revealed by data on the glucosamine usage demographics.
According to the glucosamine statistics, a minimum of $140 billion is spent on arthritis treatment in the US yearly, a condition that affects 54 million Americans.
21. Shellfish is the primary source of glucosamine.
(NCBI)
In supplement form, glucosamine is harvested from the shells of shellfish or formed in the laboratory, as revealed by the statistics on glucosamine sources. Despite this, eating shellfish shells without deep frying them first might prove difficult and be uncomfortable due to the presence of chitin, which is primarily indigestible.
22. Supplementing glucosamine may promote the destruction of cancer cells.
(Drugs.com)
Past research on the effects of glucosamine on cancer cells has shown that glucosamine has anti-cancer properties. Glucosamine decreases the DNA synthesis of cancer cells, thus arresting and destroying cancer cells at an early stage.
FAQs
Is glucosamine worth taking?
It all comes down to the health condition you’re managing with the substance. Several studies on glucosamine have shown that it has health benefits in treating osteoarthritis, jaw pains, multiple sclerosis, interstitial cystitis, removing dead skin, and even killing cancer cells at an early stage.
However, people with health conditions like blood clotting disorder should steer clear from glucosamine’s supplements to avoid internal bleeding. Pregnant women are advised to steer clear of glucosamine. There isn’t enough information on its effects during pregnancy.
Is there any evidence that glucosamine works?
It depends on the health condition you are managing. There are studies claiming that the use of glucosamine has positive effects on the treatment of each of the conditions listed above.
When it comes to other conditions, there’s no sufficient proof to back up the effectiveness of glucosamine.
How much glucosamine should I take?
Most clinical trials have used a dosage of 1.5 g of glucosamine per day, scattered into three small doses or taken at once.
Which glucosamine is best?
One of the major glucosamine sulfate benefits is its ability to assist the body in the formation of cartilages, which is why it has been identified as the most important form of glucosamine.
What are the benefits of taking glucosamine?
Glucosamine has various health benefits:
- Cancer cell destruction
- Multiple sclerosis treatment
- Interstitial cystitis treatment
- Jaw pains treatment
- Damaged cartilage repair
- Osteoarthritis treatment
- Joint pain reduction
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment
- Reduction of inflammations in the body
- Etc.
What supplements help rebuild cartilage?
Glucosamine helps in the formation of new cartilage.
What are the side effects of taking glucosamine?
The side effects of using glucosamine are minimal. It’s tested and considered safe for consumption. Some of the side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, and abdominal pain.
Conclusion
Glucosamine—a naturally occurring chemical substance in the body—has proven to be beneficial across various fields, as revealed by the glucosamine statistics. These benefits run the gamut from dead skin removal to controlling intraocular eye pressure and the formation and protection of connective tissue that make up the cartilage.
Perhaps, the most important benefit of glucosamine is its ability to stop the continuous damage of cartilage during osteoarthritis while also inducing the formation of new cartilage to aid joint movement.
