Medical Evidence

Antireactive Properties of Glucosamine Sulfate Setnikar, R. Cereda, M. A. Pacini, and L. Revel Rotta Research Laboratorium S.p.A., Monza (Italy)

Summary: Glucosamine is an aminomonosaccharide naturally occurring in the human body. It was tested for anti-inflammatory activities and it showed to protect against the edema provoked in the rat paw by carrageenin, dextran, formalin, but not against the edema provoked by specific inflammation mediators, such as bradykinin, serotonin, histamine.

Glucosamine protected against pleurities provoked in the rat by carrageenin, but not against that provoked by bradykinin. Furthermore glucosamine protected against peritonitis provoked in the rat by formalin and in the mouse by acetic acid.

Glucosamine did not show antinoceptive properties against writhings provoked by i.p. phenylquinone in the mouse.

Glucosamine did not show inhibiting activities on cyclooxygenase or on the proteolytic enzymes in the inflamed paw of the rat, but it was able to inhibit in vitro superoxide generation and lysosomial enzymes of the liver.

The potency of glucosamine on the anti-inflammatory tests was lower than that off acetylsalicylic acid and much lower than that of indometacin. Its acute toxicity, however, and notably the toxicity on the gastrointestinal tract is very low, practically absent. The pharmacological therapeutic index of glucosamine with regard to the anti-inflammatory activities seems therefore comparable or superior to that of the known non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Source: Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research 41 (I), 2, 157-161 (1991)

Dr. Theo's Comments: This study attempts to show the mechanism of action for glucosamine. This information helps explain why glucosamine can decrease the crunching and grinding noise in arthritis joints. This also helps explain why glucosamine works so amazingly well as an adjunctive treatment for gout and chondrocalcinosis.