ARTICLE 7: HOW GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN SUPPLEMENTATION CAN HELP HEAL INJURIES

Cartilage is the tough spongy cushion between the ends of your bones and soft tissues. It is mostly composed of collagen fibrils and feathery strings called proteoglycans, which are replaced continuously in response to the wear and tear of exercise. Glucosamine is produced by your body from glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Since Glucosamine is the most important chemical used in the production of proteoglycans, the amount of Glucosamine available in your body determines how quickly your joints repair themselves and recover from the stress of weight bearing exercise.

As we age, the rate of Glucosamine production in our bodies slowly declines. In addition, glutamine, an important component for the formation of Glucosamine, is in constant demand by your muscles, your immune system, and your joints. Intense exercise can easily overwhelm your body's own supply of glutamine, leaving you prone to a weakened immune system, poor muscle recovery, and a host of joint aches and pains. Supplementing with at least 5 grams of day of glutamine is important for all hard training athletes.

Fortunately, you can bypass the natural decline in Glucosamine by taking glucosamine supplements, thereby providing nutritional support for the production of proteoglycans. Animal studies show that oral Glucosamine supplementation can increase proteoglycans by up to 170%! This increase has big benefits for aching joints and injuries, including arthritis. In one study on people with arthritic knees, subjects were given either 1.5 grams daily of Glucosamine sulfate or 1.2 grams of the NSAID Advil. The Glucosamine group showed greater relief from pain and better recovery of function than the ibuprofen group. In a representative study of athletes, subjects with cartilage damage of the knees were given 1500 mg of Glucosamine sulfate daily for 40 days, then 750 mg daily for 100 days. Of the 68 athletes in the study, 52 showed a complete cure of their injury and resumed full training. A follow-up 12 months later showed no cartilage damage in any of the subjects.

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