Glucosamine

    Written by:
    Giulia Guerrini

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: October 24, 2023

    Glucosamine is a supplement obtained from the shell of shellfish that may slightly delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis and collagen degradation.

    55 references on this page
    6,295 participants in 22 trials and 6 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Dosage information

    Glucosamine sulfate is typically taken as a 500 mg dose three times a day with food.[1]

    The benefits of glucosamine are dose-dependent, and some studies on athletes used up to 2,000–3,000 mg a day, taken in divided doses.[2]

    Glucosamine sulfate salts are usually taken as a one-a-day dose of 1500 mg glucosamine.[3]

    Examine Database: Glucosamine

    Frequently asked questions

    Update History

    Examine Database References

    1. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Towheed TE, Maxwell L, Anastassiades TP, Shea B, Houpt J, Robinson V, Hochberg MC, Wells GGlucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritisCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2005 Apr 18)
    2. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Chopra A, Saluja M, Tillu G, Sarmukkaddam S, Venugopalan A, Narsimulu G, Handa R, Sumantran V, Raut A, Bichile L, Joshi K, Patwardhan BAyurvedic medicine offers a good alternative to glucosamine and celecoxib in the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled equivalence drug trialRheumatology (Oxford).(2013 Jan 30)
    3. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Yongsak Wangroongsub, Aree Tanavalee, Vajara Wilairatana, Srihatach NgarmukosComparable clinical outcomes between glucosamine sulfate-potassium chloride and glucosamine sulfate sodium chloride in patients with mild and moderate knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind studyJ Med Assoc Thai.(2010 Jul)
    4. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Clegg DO, Reda DJ, Harris CL, Klein MA, O'Dell JR, Hooper MM, Bradley JD, Bingham CO 3rd, Weisman MH, Jackson CG, Lane NE, Cush JJ, Moreland LW, Schumacher HR Jr, Oddis CV, Wolfe F, Molitor JA, Yocum DE, Schnitzer TJ, Furst DE, Sawitzke AD, Shi H, Brandt KD, Moskowitz RW, Williams HJGlucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritisN Engl J Med.(2006 Feb 23)
    5. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Houpt JB, McMillan R, Wein C, Paget-Dellio SDEffect of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of pain of osteoarthritis of the kneeJ Rheumatol.(1999 Nov)
    6. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Pujalte JM, Llavore EP, Ylescupidez FRDouble-blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulphate in the basic treatment of osteoarthrosisCurr Med Res Opin.(1980)
    7. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - McAlindon T, Formica M, LaValley M, Lehmer M, Kabbara KEffectiveness of glucosamine for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis: results from an internet-based randomized double-blind controlled trialAm J Med.(2004 Nov 1)
    8. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Reginster JY, Deroisy R, Rovati LC, Lee RL, Lejeune E, Bruyere O, Giacovelli G, Henrotin Y, Dacre JE, Gossett CLong-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trialLancet.(2001 Jan 27)
    9. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Herrero-Beaumont G, Ivorra JA, Del Carmen Trabado M, Blanco FJ, Benito P, Martín-Mola E, Paulino J, Marenco JL, Porto A, Laffon A, Araújo D, Figueroa M, Branco JGlucosamine sulfate in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using acetaminophen as a side comparatorArthritis Rheum.(2007 Feb)
    10. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Pavelká K, Gatterová J, Olejarová M, Machacek S, Giacovelli G, Rovati LCGlucosamine sulfate use and delay of progression of knee osteoarthritis: a 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studyArch Intern Med.(2002 Oct 14)
    11. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Hughes R, Carr AA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of glucosamine sulphate as an analgesic in osteoarthritis of the kneeRheumatology (Oxford).(2002 Mar)
    12. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Rindone JP, Hiller D, Collacott E, Nordhaugen N, Arriola GRandomized, controlled trial of glucosamine for treating osteoarthritis of the kneeWest J Med.(2000 Feb)
    13. Pain - Noack W, Fischer M, Förster KK, Rovati LC, Setnikar IGlucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the kneeOsteoarthritis Cartilage.(1994 Mar)
    14. Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) Symptoms - Thie NM, Prasad NG, Major PWEvaluation of glucosamine sulfate compared to ibuprofen for the treatment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: a randomized double blind controlled 3 month clinical trialJ Rheumatol.(2001 Jun)
    15. Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) Symptoms - Cahlin BJ, Dahlström LNo effect of glucosamine sulfate on osteoarthritis in the temporomandibular joints--a randomized, controlled, short-term studyOral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod.(2011 Dec)
    16. Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) Symptoms - Haghighat A, Behnia A, Kaviani N, Khorami BEvaluation of Glucosamine sulfate and Ibuprofen effects in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis symptom.J Res Pharm Pract.(2013 Jan)
    17. Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) Symptoms - Cen X, Liu Y, Wang S, Yang X, Shi Z, Liang XGlucosamine oral administration as an adjunct to hyaluronic acid injection in treating temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.Oral Dis.(2018 Apr)
    18. Kashin-Beck Disease Symptoms - Liu W, Liu G, Pei F, Liu Y, Zhou Z, Li J, Shen B, Kang P, Xie Q, Ma XKashin-Beck disease in Sichuan, China: report of a pilot open therapeutic trialJ Clin Rheumatol.(2012 Jan)
    19. Kashin-Beck Disease Symptoms - Yue J, Yang M, Yi S, Dong B, Li W, Yang Z, Lu J, Zhang R, Yong JChondroitin sulfate and/or glucosamine hydrochloride for Kashin-Beck disease: a cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled studyOsteoarthritis Cartilage.(2012 Jul)
    20. Range of Motion - Ostojic SM, Arsic M, Prodanovic S, Vukovic J, Zlatanovic MGlucosamine administration in athletes: effects on recovery of acute knee injuryRes Sports Med.(2007 Apr-Jun)
    21. CTX-II - Yoshimura M, Sakamoto K, Tsuruta A, Yamamoto T, Ishida K, Yamaguchi H, Nagaoka IEvaluation of the effect of glucosamine administration on biomarkers for cartilage and bone metabolism in soccer playersInt J Mol Med.(2009 Oct)