Glucosamine sulfate is a type of fluid found naturally around joint tissue. For the treatment of some medical conditions, natural medicine practitioners often recommend glucosamine supplements derived from sea shells or synthetically produced in a laboratory.

Function

In your body, glucosamine sulfate works as a protectant, lubricating and insulating your joints. Natural medicine practitioners believe that glucosamine supplements have similar effects in the human body, according to RxList.

Uses

Reported uses of glucosamine sulfate by natural medicine practitioners include alleviating the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis, preventing joint damage caused by arthritis, the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and glaucoma, and to assist in weight loss.

Clinical Evidence

A 2009 study published in the Bulletin of the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases found that rabbits, injured in a way that mimicked the effects of osteoarthris, suffered less joint damage when treated with injections of glucosamine sulfate.

Expert Insight

The American College of Rheumatology cautions that more research is needed to ultimately determine whether or not glucosamine sulfate can protect human joints from the effects of osteoarthritis.

Considerations

Because its effects upon fetal development are unknown, avoid using glucosamine sulfate if you are pregnant or nursing. If you have a history of diabetes, asthma or allergies to shellfish, or are scheduled for surgery within the next two weeks, it may not be safe for you to take glucosamine sulfate, warns RxList.

Source:

RxList.com: Glucosamine Sulfate Effectiveness, Safety and Drug Interactions

Pubmed.gov: Chondroprotective effect of N-acetylglucosamine and hyaluronate in early stages of osteoarthritis--an experimental study in rabbits

American College of Rheumatology: Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate for Osteoporosis