...uk have Health Perception’s Glucosamine Sulphate, 90 tablets for £19.99; 30 tablets for £14.99
Goodness Direct (www.goodnessdirect.co.uk) have Natures Aid Glucosamine Sulphate, 30 tablets (1000mg) for £4.49; Power Health’s Glucosamine Sulphate, 30 tablets (750 mg) for £4.25; ... Read review
Advantages: lessens pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis Disadvantages: expensive; not suitable for strict vegetarians
.../>
Don’t let health food shop staff try to talk you into taking glucosamine for minor aches and pains. It is for osteoarthritis suffers (where there is cartilage loss/damage) and has very little effect on other conditions other than to decrease your bank balance.
~ SIDE-EFFECTS ~
There are very few OFFICIAL reported side-effects of glucosamine – the main one being problems reported by people with ... ...around. It is available in health food shops and some chemists, as well as mail order and on the Internet. It is frequently on offer in Holland & Barrett. There are a few different types – glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, etc. Some people believe the sulfate form to be the most effective one, but that is probably because more studies have been done on that. The sulfate version is more expensive than the hydrochloride version ... more
Glucosamine is found naturally in the body. It is an amino sugar (aminomonosaccharide – amino = protein; monosaccharide = simple sugar) which contains sulphur and is used for growth and repair of connective tissues, joints and cartilage. It is found actually in the cartilage, but less so as we age. Glucosamine isn’t the only substance in cartilage that diminishes though). The cartilage gets thinner, leading to onset and/or progression of arthritis. Glucosamine, when taken either orally or by IV injection, goes into the blood stream and then is taken up by the tissues. There it helps rebuild the cartilage.
Like MSM (review coming up soon), a close relative, glucosamine was discovered by horses long before people jumped on the bandwagon (and forced the price up). Horses and dogs have known of its effectiveness in osteoarthritis for years.
Osteoarthritis is the one that older people get – it can also set in after an injury or break. It is where cartilage is lost from the ends of the bones and they rub together, causing pain and loss of mobility.
Don’t let health food shop staff try to talk you into taking glucosamine for minor aches and pains. It is for osteoarthritis suffers (where there is cartilage loss/damage) and has very little effect on other conditions other than to decrease your bank balance.
~ SIDE-EFFECTS ~ There are very few OFFICIAL reported side-effects of glucosamine – the main one being problems reported by people with shellfish allergies. Some people feel it has affected them though. These are mainly people who are taking other medications. Diabetics have said they believe it affected their insulin levels, others have reported light-headedness/dizziness.
~ VEGETARIANS BEWARE ~ Glucosamine is extracted from crab, lobster and shrimp shells. I don’t think they get the creature’s permission before extracting it. Some brands of glucosamine add chondroitin, which improves the effects of glucosamine. Chondroitin is taken from the cartilage of sharks, cows and pigs.
Quest do a vegan glucosamine, which I gather isn’t derived from shellfish, and isn’t more expensive than the normal one (available from Goodness Direct – see below – among other places)
~ PRICES ~ Shop around. It is available in health food shops and some chemists, as well as mail order and on the Internet. It is frequently on offer in Holland & Barrett. There are a few different types – glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, etc. Some people believe the sulfate form to be the most effective one, but that is probably because more studies have been done on that. The sulfate version is more expensive than the hydrochloride version though. There is also a topical (gel) version now.
www.health-store.co.uk have Health Perception’s Glucosamine Sulphate, 90 tablets for £19.99; 30 tablets for £14.99
Goodness Direct (www.goodnessdirect.co.uk) have Natures Aid Glucosamine Sulphate, 30 tablets (1000mg) for £4.49; Power Health’s Glucosamine Sulphate, 30 tablets (750 mg) for £4.25; and Quest’s Glucosamine Sulphate, 30 tablets (500 mg) for £6.31.
The prices are confusing, as they range from £2.99 for a 30-tablet pack in Home Bargain to £20 a pack of a good, reputable make. I would aim to go for the best quality you could afford because, in the supplement world, quality counts.
~ IMPORTANT DISCOVERY ~ Doctors will tell you that there haven’t been sufficient studies done yet to prove that it works. Arthritics who are freed from debilitating pain will tell you they don’t give a stuff what the studies do or don’t say, just that it works for them. (Although I did an Internet search to see what studies have been done and found hundreds. Most show it is as effective as something like Ibuprofen for pain relief.)
My father took it for a couple of months one Summer and it worked for him; my husband took it and it didn’t help. My father took it in the Winter and it didn’t do any good. He put that down to the cold and damp making his arthritis too bad to help. BUT – important information coming up – we have recently found out why it didn’t work in Winter. Here it is :
My husband asked his physiotherapist about glucosamine. She came out with the usual stuff about lack of proof, but did say that a lot of her patients claimed it gave them pain relief and improved mobility. But she added that it does NOT work alongside any drug – the glucosamine becomes completely ineffective. So if you are taking painkillers, antidepressants or anti-inflammatories to help your arthritis don’t take glucosamine as well. You will be wasting your money.
This explains why it didn’t work for my father in Winter and why it didn’t work for my husband at all. My husband is on long-term antidepressants, and my father has to take lots of painkillers in Winter. When he took glucosamine in Summer he wasn’t taking lots of painkillers because his arthritis is not as bad in the heat (although he still gets very stiff, which is why he was taking the glucosamine).
Now I think this is a pretty important finding. Glucosamine isn’t cheap and it is annoying to find out that you have been wasting your money. Arthritics are often on a cocktail of drugs so any glucosamine they take isn’t going to be as effective as it should be.
The manufacturers recommend you try glucosamine for 6-8 weeks, to give it a fair chance. I would recommend taking it when you are on holiday and seeing if you can get it into your system and working within a couple of weeks, then hopefully you won’t need loads of painkillers and anti-inflammatories when you get back.
Advantages: Popular products which many people say works Disadvantages: The taste!
These days many people choose to take glucosamine sulphate - I know lots of people who take it in the hope that it will do them some good. From talking to people, I thought that it might be useful to find out how to take it. I hope you find this useful....
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Glucosamine Sulphate "helps to maintain healthy joints, tendons, muscles and ligaments" (this is the only way that manufacturers can tell you what is does according to food law). ... ...forms part of the structure of a jelly like substance (a carbohydrate) called GAG, or glucosaminoglycan. This is the basis of how glucosamine sulphate workd. When people get wear or tear on the joints, the water inbetween the joints (the synovial fluid) can become very thin. This means that the synovial fluid offers little protection to the joints, and this is the start of processes such as inflammation, and wearing down on cartilage tissue. By keeping ...
spacebaby 29.08.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Health Aid Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets
Advantages: Fast, no side effects except good ones. Disadvantages: If this pain goes then there are none
...was driven to my local health food shop and asked the assistant what she recommended for inflamed and aching joints. She asked if I was allergic to shell fish and seafoods, if I was diabetic and added that the side effects were to be welcomed-glossy hair and stronger nails. These are side effects I can handle! I reluctantly handed over £20.00 for a jar of 120 capsules containing Methyl Sulphonyl Methane, Glucosamine Sulphate and Chondroitin Sulphate. ... ...you have a friendly local health food shop then pop in and ask them about Glucosamine and Chondroitin or if you prefer shopping online just paste the supplements into a search engine and see the offers as long as you believe they are a reputable online shopping site.
I am very optimistic about my newfound pain free energy, as one of the biggest giveaways about somebody’s age is the way they get out of a chair, creaking and groaning-or with a lightness ...
mornev 23.10.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Health Aid Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets
Advantages: Seem to actually work and not expensive if bought in bulk Disadvantages: none that I can see
Over the last year or so I have suffered pain in both elbows possibly as a result of getting old and rickety (!) or through taking up exercise. The final decision came over Christmas when I had a recurrance of back pain which I also attributed to similar causes. Whatever the cause, I thought I would try some Glucosamine as coincidentally there were a number of press reports on the outcome of studies which seem to support its effectiveness.
My initial ... ...on Glucosamine and Chondroitin tablets, the combination being regarded as even more effective than Glucosamine alone. At the recommended dose these would be a bit dear so after the first 10 days or so I dropped down to one a day. They took about 6-8 weeks to work but I have to say that they do seem to have done the trick. The elbow pain has largely disappeared and the recurrent back problems are definitely less.
When the first bottle was gone so ...
aardvark99 18.03.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Health Aid Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets
Advantages: Cheap from Kleeneze Catalogue Disadvantages: Expensive from the High Street
When I was young I used to exercise very frequently and as a result I've suffered from joint pain. Glucosamine is a vital component of the materials used by your body to maintain the cartilage and joints. You only need to take one a day and if you take them in conjunction with Cod Liver Oil your joints should feel better within few weeks. Great for people who exercise frequently, athletes and older people who require some relief from joint pain. ... ...I purchased the Glucosamine "Kleeneze" a cleaning catalogue that comes through the door. They delivered them very quickly and a tub of 365 tabs cost £23.95. If you buy Glucosamine from a high street store you will only get a tub of 60 tablets at 500mg strength - so these are much better value. ...
Alexmouse 14.12.2000 (13.12.2000)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Health Aid Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets
I have been using Glucosamine Sulphate on and off for about 2 years now, and I have noticed its benefits. I play a lot of squash, a sport that takes its toll on your joints, especially the knee. Whilst using Glucosamine, I have noticed that I am not as likely to get an injury, or if I already have an injury, it heals a lot quicker and stronger. I would recommend its use to anybody. It is made by a number of supplement companies, each one no different, ...
blockidge 20.12.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Health Aid Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets
Similar products and search queries by other users »
Health Tablets, Health Aid Tablets, Health Glucosamine Tablets, Health Sulphate Tablets, Health Aid Glucosamine Tablets, Health Aid Sulphate Tablets, Health Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets, Health Aid Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Health Aid Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets? Click here
