Glucosamine

OK boys, looking for some advice re: glucosamine (dont know if I'm spelling it right).  I've had issues with my left knee from all the weight I used to carry.  I've been told it arthritis.  Funny how these things haunt you after all the weight loss success.  Anywho, I was curious if anyone has had success with Glucosamine and their joints.  Do we absorb this stuff or is it a waste of money?  Any feedback would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance. John

John, I used glucosamine for years prior to having surgery.  I stopped prior to in order to prepare myself and my guts for re-plumbing. I had good results with it, but like any supplement - "Individual results may vary" and "these statments have not been evaluated by the FDA". I have not used it post-op simply because I don't think I could get that kind of horse pill down yet.  As far as whether or not we can absorb it.....who knows? As always, when in doubt, consult your surgeon or nutrition specialist.

John, I have been working with an orthopedist for my hip and knees. There is an early medical study out that says that 1500 mg of Glucosamine helps stimulate joint lubrication and cartilage growth. My Dr recommends a multi - formula of Glucosamine combined with Chondroitin and MSM. Osteo Bi-Flex is the brand I use. I find that it really does help make my hip and knees feel less gritty, if that is a technical term. Of course losing weight takes a load of the joints as well. The 1500 mg is a two large pill dose. I take one in the moring and one in the evening, I bite them to break them up. I did the Dx trick of soking a pill for 5 minutes in water and it did not get mushy, so in the solid pill form the absorbsion is not a good a crushed pill, I also split it to two time in the day to help spead out the absobsion. The taste is bitter when biting it, but I have tasted worse. Herb

 

 

 

As Herb says and my PCP (a top notch Board Certified Internal Medicine guy) confirmed, there are now published medical studies that indicate Glucosamine is benefical and does help.  I've been on it since my surgery and absolutely NO problems with my knees or any other joints - even doing the HIIT regime.  I was using the Glucosamine w/Chondroiton but he says there are no published or medical results that indicate it (Chondroiton) helps at all, so he suggested I stick with just the Glucosamine.

Hey! Yes I personally believe it helps. I give it to my 23 yr.old horse and it certainly helps keep her moving freeer. So I decided to start taking it... you don't really notice any difference, until about 3 weeks later,and you DON"T take it for a couple of days.. then you know it did help!