Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsSide EffectsDosage and Preparation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
Side Effects
Dosage and Preparation
Glucosamineis a natural substance in your body that is used to build cartilage, the flexible connective tissue that supports movement and protects joints and bones. Glucosamine supplements may help people witharthritis,multiple sclerosis, age-related joint problems, and more.
Most supplements are made with marine life shells, such as shrimp and crabs.These supplements may not be appropriate for everyone. Talk to your healthcare provider about glucosamine used with certain medications or health concerns.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Paul Bradbury / Getty Images
Glucosamine has been widely studied with inconclusive results for a range of health conditions that include:
A 2016 study involving 1,593 people who had takenglucosamine and chondroitinfor up to six years concluded that both supplements were safe and effective for long-term use.
Potential Risks
Glucosamine side effects are typically mild and include:
People with certain health conditions should not take glucosamine supplements without consulting a healthcare provider. These diseases and disorders include:
Pregnant people and those who are breastfeeding/chestfeeding should not take glucosamine as there is not enough research to support its safe use.
Stop taking glucosamine at least two weeks prior to scheduled surgery, as it may impact the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
Glucosamine and Shellfish AllergiesPeople who are allergic to shellfish should check the label as many supplements are made from the shells of lobsters, shrimp, or crabs. Some researchers have called for more clear shellfish allergy warnings on glucosamine supplement packaging.
Glucosamine and Shellfish Allergies
People who are allergic to shellfish should check the label as many supplements are made from the shells of lobsters, shrimp, or crabs. Some researchers have called for more clear shellfish allergy warnings on glucosamine supplement packaging.
Interactions and Warnings
Glucosamine supplements should not be taken with the blood-thinning drugwarfarinas it may increase its effects and cause bruising and serious bleeding. It also should be used with care when taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) and with some diabetes medications.
There also is some evidence to suggest glucosamine may interfere with certain cancer drugs, known as topoisomerase II inhibitors.These include:
Glucosamine may hinder the effectiveness of these drugs.
Glucosamine and Vitamins
Dosage and Sources
There are no common foods that you can eat to get glucosamine.Glucosamine supplements are often derived from the shells of shrimp, lobster, and crabs, and consuming shells themselves in any form is not recommended.
Glucosamine products include:
There is no standard recommended dose for glucosamine. The supplement is typically sold in tablets and capsules, and is often included with other supplements that may be effective for pain.
Check with your healthcare provider about other options, including topical creams and injected forms or combinations of drugs that include glucosamine. While the supplement is sold as glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetylglucosamine, most of the research showing benefits has been done on glucosamine sulfate.
Taking Glucosamine Every DayIt is OK to take glucosamine every day, but check with your healthcare provider. For example, with osteoarthritis, 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day, taken orally either at once, in two doses of 750 mg, or in three doses of 500 mg, is believed to be a safe dose taken for up to three years in adults.
Taking Glucosamine Every Day
It is OK to take glucosamine every day, but check with your healthcare provider. For example, with osteoarthritis, 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day, taken orally either at once, in two doses of 750 mg, or in three doses of 500 mg, is believed to be a safe dose taken for up to three years in adults.
Summary
Glucosamine may be of some benefit to people with certain health conditions including diabetes, osteoarthritis, and multiple sclerosis. However, more research is needed to verify these benefits and better understand how they can be used to prevent or treat health conditions.
If you’re considering the use of glucosamine, talk to your healthcare provider before starting your supplements. Certain underlying health conditions and medications can create risks when taking glucosamine. You also should discuss the dosage and type of product it will be safe to use.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Glucosamine Information.DiNubile N.Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate: What has been learned since the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial.Orthopedics. 2018;41(4):200-7. doi:10.3928/01477447-20180511-06Raynauld JP, Pelletier JP, Abram F, et al.Long-term effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on the progression of structural changes in knee osteoarthritis: six-year followup data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(10):1560-6. doi:10.1002/acr.22866Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, Pham HL, Dinh KXA, Che UTT,et al.Effectiveness and Safety of Glucosamine in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023 Jul 14;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.Zhao S, Otieno F,Akpan A, Moots RJ.Complementary and alternative medicine use in rheumatoid arthritis: considerations for the pharmacological management of elderly patients.Drugs & Aging. 2017;34(4):255-264. doi:10.1007/s40266-017-0443-0Gwinnutt JM, Wieczorek M, Rodríguez-Carrio J, Balanescu A, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Boonen A,et al.Effects of diet on the outcomes of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs): systematic review and meta-analyses informing the 2021 EULAR recommendations for lifestyle improvements in people with RMDs.RMD Open. 2022 Jun;8(2):e002167. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002167Saghafi M, Karimi M, Bonakdaran S, Massoudnia N.Oral Glucosamine Effect on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Patients With Non-Diabetic Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.Arch Rheumatol. 2016 Oct 1;31(4):340-345. doi: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2016.5632.Ma H, Li X, Zhou T, Sun D, Liang Z, Li Y,et al.Glucosamine Use, Inflammation, and Genetic Susceptibility, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study in UK Biobank.Diabetes Care. 2020 Apr;43(4):719-725. doi:10.2337/dc19-1836Roy S, Dhaneshwar S, Mahmood T, Kumar S, Saxena SK.Pre-clinical investigation of protective effect of nutraceutical D-glucosamine on TNBS-induced colitis.Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2023 Apr;45(2):172-184. doi:10.1080/08923973.2022.2128370Moon JM, Finnegan P, Stecker RA, Lee H, Ratliff KM, Jäger R,et al.Impact of Glucosamine Supplementation on Gut Health.Nutrients. 2021 Jun 24;13(7):2180. doi:10.3390/nu13072180Derwich M, Górski B, Amm E, Pawłowska E.Oral Glucosamine in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 3;24(5):4925. doi:10.3390/ijms24054925Sy M, Newton BL, Pawling J, Hayama KL, Cordon A, Yu Z,et al.N-acetylglucosamine inhibits inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in multiple sclerosis: a mechanistic trial.J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Sep 13;20(1):209. doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02893-9Zhou J, Wu Z, Lin Z, Wang W, Wan R, Liu T.Association between glucosamine use and cancer mortality: A large prospective cohort study.Front Nutr. 2022 Nov 2;9:947818. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.947818MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Hoban C, Byard R, Musgrave I.Hypersensitive adverse drug reactions to glucosamine and chondroitin preparations in Australia between 2000 and 2011.Postgrad Med J. 2020 Apr;96(1134):190-193. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136957.Agbabiaka TB, Spencer NH, Khanom S, Goodman C.Prevalence of drug-herb and drug-supplement interactions in older adults: a cross-sectional survey.Br J Gen Pract. 2018 Oct;68(675):e711-e717. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X699101.University of Michigan Health.Glucosamine and chondroitin.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Glucosamine Information.DiNubile N.Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate: What has been learned since the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial.Orthopedics. 2018;41(4):200-7. doi:10.3928/01477447-20180511-06Raynauld JP, Pelletier JP, Abram F, et al.Long-term effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on the progression of structural changes in knee osteoarthritis: six-year followup data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(10):1560-6. doi:10.1002/acr.22866Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, Pham HL, Dinh KXA, Che UTT,et al.Effectiveness and Safety of Glucosamine in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023 Jul 14;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.Zhao S, Otieno F,Akpan A, Moots RJ.Complementary and alternative medicine use in rheumatoid arthritis: considerations for the pharmacological management of elderly patients.Drugs & Aging. 2017;34(4):255-264. doi:10.1007/s40266-017-0443-0Gwinnutt JM, Wieczorek M, Rodríguez-Carrio J, Balanescu A, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Boonen A,et al.Effects of diet on the outcomes of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs): systematic review and meta-analyses informing the 2021 EULAR recommendations for lifestyle improvements in people with RMDs.RMD Open. 2022 Jun;8(2):e002167. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002167Saghafi M, Karimi M, Bonakdaran S, Massoudnia N.Oral Glucosamine Effect on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Patients With Non-Diabetic Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.Arch Rheumatol. 2016 Oct 1;31(4):340-345. doi: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2016.5632.Ma H, Li X, Zhou T, Sun D, Liang Z, Li Y,et al.Glucosamine Use, Inflammation, and Genetic Susceptibility, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study in UK Biobank.Diabetes Care. 2020 Apr;43(4):719-725. doi:10.2337/dc19-1836Roy S, Dhaneshwar S, Mahmood T, Kumar S, Saxena SK.Pre-clinical investigation of protective effect of nutraceutical D-glucosamine on TNBS-induced colitis.Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2023 Apr;45(2):172-184. doi:10.1080/08923973.2022.2128370Moon JM, Finnegan P, Stecker RA, Lee H, Ratliff KM, Jäger R,et al.Impact of Glucosamine Supplementation on Gut Health.Nutrients. 2021 Jun 24;13(7):2180. doi:10.3390/nu13072180Derwich M, Górski B, Amm E, Pawłowska E.Oral Glucosamine in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 3;24(5):4925. doi:10.3390/ijms24054925Sy M, Newton BL, Pawling J, Hayama KL, Cordon A, Yu Z,et al.N-acetylglucosamine inhibits inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in multiple sclerosis: a mechanistic trial.J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Sep 13;20(1):209. doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02893-9Zhou J, Wu Z, Lin Z, Wang W, Wan R, Liu T.Association between glucosamine use and cancer mortality: A large prospective cohort study.Front Nutr. 2022 Nov 2;9:947818. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.947818MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Hoban C, Byard R, Musgrave I.Hypersensitive adverse drug reactions to glucosamine and chondroitin preparations in Australia between 2000 and 2011.Postgrad Med J. 2020 Apr;96(1134):190-193. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136957.Agbabiaka TB, Spencer NH, Khanom S, Goodman C.Prevalence of drug-herb and drug-supplement interactions in older adults: a cross-sectional survey.Br J Gen Pract. 2018 Oct;68(675):e711-e717. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X699101.University of Michigan Health.Glucosamine and chondroitin.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Glucosamine Information.DiNubile N.Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate: What has been learned since the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial.Orthopedics. 2018;41(4):200-7. doi:10.3928/01477447-20180511-06Raynauld JP, Pelletier JP, Abram F, et al.Long-term effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on the progression of structural changes in knee osteoarthritis: six-year followup data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(10):1560-6. doi:10.1002/acr.22866Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, Pham HL, Dinh KXA, Che UTT,et al.Effectiveness and Safety of Glucosamine in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023 Jul 14;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.Zhao S, Otieno F,Akpan A, Moots RJ.Complementary and alternative medicine use in rheumatoid arthritis: considerations for the pharmacological management of elderly patients.Drugs & Aging. 2017;34(4):255-264. doi:10.1007/s40266-017-0443-0Gwinnutt JM, Wieczorek M, Rodríguez-Carrio J, Balanescu A, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Boonen A,et al.Effects of diet on the outcomes of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs): systematic review and meta-analyses informing the 2021 EULAR recommendations for lifestyle improvements in people with RMDs.RMD Open. 2022 Jun;8(2):e002167. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002167Saghafi M, Karimi M, Bonakdaran S, Massoudnia N.Oral Glucosamine Effect on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Patients With Non-Diabetic Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.Arch Rheumatol. 2016 Oct 1;31(4):340-345. doi: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2016.5632.Ma H, Li X, Zhou T, Sun D, Liang Z, Li Y,et al.Glucosamine Use, Inflammation, and Genetic Susceptibility, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study in UK Biobank.Diabetes Care. 2020 Apr;43(4):719-725. doi:10.2337/dc19-1836Roy S, Dhaneshwar S, Mahmood T, Kumar S, Saxena SK.Pre-clinical investigation of protective effect of nutraceutical D-glucosamine on TNBS-induced colitis.Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2023 Apr;45(2):172-184. doi:10.1080/08923973.2022.2128370Moon JM, Finnegan P, Stecker RA, Lee H, Ratliff KM, Jäger R,et al.Impact of Glucosamine Supplementation on Gut Health.Nutrients. 2021 Jun 24;13(7):2180. doi:10.3390/nu13072180Derwich M, Górski B, Amm E, Pawłowska E.Oral Glucosamine in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 3;24(5):4925. doi:10.3390/ijms24054925Sy M, Newton BL, Pawling J, Hayama KL, Cordon A, Yu Z,et al.N-acetylglucosamine inhibits inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in multiple sclerosis: a mechanistic trial.J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Sep 13;20(1):209. doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02893-9Zhou J, Wu Z, Lin Z, Wang W, Wan R, Liu T.Association between glucosamine use and cancer mortality: A large prospective cohort study.Front Nutr. 2022 Nov 2;9:947818. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.947818MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Hoban C, Byard R, Musgrave I.Hypersensitive adverse drug reactions to glucosamine and chondroitin preparations in Australia between 2000 and 2011.Postgrad Med J. 2020 Apr;96(1134):190-193. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136957.Agbabiaka TB, Spencer NH, Khanom S, Goodman C.Prevalence of drug-herb and drug-supplement interactions in older adults: a cross-sectional survey.Br J Gen Pract. 2018 Oct;68(675):e711-e717. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X699101.University of Michigan Health.Glucosamine and chondroitin.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Glucosamine Information.
DiNubile N.Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate: What has been learned since the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial.Orthopedics. 2018;41(4):200-7. doi:10.3928/01477447-20180511-06
Raynauld JP, Pelletier JP, Abram F, et al.Long-term effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on the progression of structural changes in knee osteoarthritis: six-year followup data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(10):1560-6. doi:10.1002/acr.22866
Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, Pham HL, Dinh KXA, Che UTT,et al.Effectiveness and Safety of Glucosamine in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023 Jul 14;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Zhao S, Otieno F,Akpan A, Moots RJ.Complementary and alternative medicine use in rheumatoid arthritis: considerations for the pharmacological management of elderly patients.Drugs & Aging. 2017;34(4):255-264. doi:10.1007/s40266-017-0443-0
Gwinnutt JM, Wieczorek M, Rodríguez-Carrio J, Balanescu A, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Boonen A,et al.Effects of diet on the outcomes of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs): systematic review and meta-analyses informing the 2021 EULAR recommendations for lifestyle improvements in people with RMDs.RMD Open. 2022 Jun;8(2):e002167. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002167
Saghafi M, Karimi M, Bonakdaran S, Massoudnia N.Oral Glucosamine Effect on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Patients With Non-Diabetic Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.Arch Rheumatol. 2016 Oct 1;31(4):340-345. doi: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2016.5632.
Ma H, Li X, Zhou T, Sun D, Liang Z, Li Y,et al.Glucosamine Use, Inflammation, and Genetic Susceptibility, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study in UK Biobank.Diabetes Care. 2020 Apr;43(4):719-725. doi:10.2337/dc19-1836
Roy S, Dhaneshwar S, Mahmood T, Kumar S, Saxena SK.Pre-clinical investigation of protective effect of nutraceutical D-glucosamine on TNBS-induced colitis.Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2023 Apr;45(2):172-184. doi:10.1080/08923973.2022.2128370
Moon JM, Finnegan P, Stecker RA, Lee H, Ratliff KM, Jäger R,et al.Impact of Glucosamine Supplementation on Gut Health.Nutrients. 2021 Jun 24;13(7):2180. doi:10.3390/nu13072180
Derwich M, Górski B, Amm E, Pawłowska E.Oral Glucosamine in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 3;24(5):4925. doi:10.3390/ijms24054925
Sy M, Newton BL, Pawling J, Hayama KL, Cordon A, Yu Z,et al.N-acetylglucosamine inhibits inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in multiple sclerosis: a mechanistic trial.J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Sep 13;20(1):209. doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02893-9
Zhou J, Wu Z, Lin Z, Wang W, Wan R, Liu T.Association between glucosamine use and cancer mortality: A large prospective cohort study.Front Nutr. 2022 Nov 2;9:947818. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.947818
MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.
Hoban C, Byard R, Musgrave I.Hypersensitive adverse drug reactions to glucosamine and chondroitin preparations in Australia between 2000 and 2011.Postgrad Med J. 2020 Apr;96(1134):190-193. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136957.
Agbabiaka TB, Spencer NH, Khanom S, Goodman C.Prevalence of drug-herb and drug-supplement interactions in older adults: a cross-sectional survey.Br J Gen Pract. 2018 Oct;68(675):e711-e717. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X699101.
University of Michigan Health.Glucosamine and chondroitin.
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