As part of longevity research, many people are concerned with keeping their bodies healthy for as long as possible. In addition to maintaining the cognitive performance, the muscles and general cell health also includes healthy joints and bones. In this article, we will therefore focus on the substance that has been known for a long time: glucosamineThe molecule has been around for decades in the focus of research on joint pain and, more recently, longevityBut what is it really about and is it worth taking glucosamine? We'll explain.
Glucosamine at a Glance
Glucosamine occurs naturally in our body. The substance is a component of our synovial fluid, our cartilage and ours connective tissueAs the name suggests, glucosamine is a compound made up of a sugar and an amino group. It is not only found in the human body, but also in the shells of shellfish, in animal bones and in bone marrow. Glucosamine is also naturally found in some mushrooms.
The molecule serves in our body as a precursor for the production of glycosylated proteins and fats. Glycosylation refers to the chemical reaction in which carbohydrates are combined with proteins or fats, for example.
How is glucosamine produced?
It is produced in various ways. One possibility is to obtain glucosamine by further processing the chitin of shellfish such as crabs, shrimps or lobsters. A German researcher was the first to succeed in producing chitin by hydrolysis (breaking down) in 1876.
Worth knowing: Since many glucosamine supplements are derived from shellfish, these may not be safe for people with a shellfish allergyTherefore, many products have a warning label. In this case, you can Buy Glucosamine of plant origin or obtained from fungi.
For the animal-free production of glucosamine for vegans or vegetarians, the substance is used, for example, from the fungus Aspergillus niger or from the fermentation of corn So there is the possibility to taking vegan glucosamine and avoiding an allergic reaction to shellfish.
Glucosamine and chondroitin – is the combination worth it?
Glucosamine is available in various forms. The most common forms are glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride and N-acetylglucosamineOf these forms, the glucosamine sulfate a possible effect on osteoarthritis. However, many manufacturers sell glucosamine in combination with other preparations such as chondroitin or dimethylsulfone or methylsulfonylmethane (MSM for short).
However, there is currently no solid and justifiable study on this.The data on this is very thin. However, the Swiss longevity researcher Collin Ewald is investigating the substance chondroitin for a possible life-prolonging effect. More on this later.
Why and when should you supplement glucosamine?
glucosamine has been used for decades as dietary supplements Mostly, the manufacturers suggest a positive effect on joints and knee pain. Therefore, many people buy joint inflammation or pain this product in the hope that it will alleviate the disease. The idea is that the glucosamine is absorbed by the body and incorporated into the joint or cartilage, for example.
An older meta-study came to the conclusion that glucosamine sulfate alone or in combination with chondroitin has no pain-relieving effect in patients with osteoarthritis. In addition, no demonstrable effect on joint wear could be observed. However, this is in contrast to a more recent meta-analysis from 2020. This concluded that glucosamine sulfate at a dose of 1500 mg per day may have a cartilage-protecting effect, reduce pain and increase mobility.
Highly pure glucosamine sulfate from MoleQlar is available in a bulk pack of 90 capsules.
Glucosamine and osteoarthritis – a closer look
The consumer advice center points out on its website that glucosamine has shown contradictory results in studies and that there is no connection with improved joint function – that is true, Nevertheless, it is worth taking a closer look at the (especially newer) studies.
First of all, we have to distinguish between two clinical pictures. osteoarthritis – i.e. the age-related loss of cartilage and the arthritis – an inflammatory joint disease. These two terms are often confused, but the distinction is very important because the disease mechanism is different!
Without going too deep into the medicine, you can remember that The main difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is the inflammatory reaction If you look at the studies on Glucosamine and Osteoarthritis If you look at it, then it is true that the results are partly contradictory. On the other hand, the work on Glucosamine and arthritis more meaningful.
This enabled the researchers to Temporomandibular joint arthritis see a significant benefit from supplementing glucosamineWhat was important here was the longer intake of glucosamine, in this case at least three months.
Glucosamine and Longevity
In addition to the joint issue, glucosamine recently especially in relation to longevity in the scientific headlines. In 2014, researchers discovered that the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans a life-prolonging effect of glucosamine. It is not yet clear to what extent these results can be transferred to humans. A study from 2018 confirmed these results in the same model organism. The life-prolonging effect was attributed to the activation of the autophagy returned.
A recently published study from 2022 also concluded that higher glucosamine levels may increase life expectancy. In the renowned journal Frontiers in Aging In 2021, an article by Dr. Collin Ewald, a leading longevity researcher at ETH Zurich, was published. In his Ewaldlab The Swiss researcher is researching the molecular mechanisms of healthy aging. He placed chondroitin at the center of his research and came to the conclusion that the molecule may be a suitable geroprotector. By this he means a molecule with anti-aging effects.
What should I pay attention to when taking it?
As with all dietary supplements, it is advisable to speak to a qualified specialist beforehand. In any case, you should avoid simply taking the substance in uncontrolled, very high quantities, as this could lead to side effects. In addition, people who take blood-thinning medication should consult a doctor, as this could lead to Interactions between glucosamine and drugs from the group of vitamin K antagonists can come.
Good to know: The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment recommends that people with impaired glucose tolerance or manifest diabetes mellitus should also be cautious when taking glucosamine. The amino sugar can blood sugar control be difficult.
Before starting supplementation, it is advisable to speak to your doctor.
Glucosamine acts on the microbiome
The change des microbiome is one of the Hallmarks of AgingAs we age, the diversity of bacteria decreases and the Symbiosis develops into dysbiosisFor this reason, the microbiome is one of the most central research areas, since many diseases are associated with an imbalance.
Glucosamine was used in this review article for its interaction with the microbiome.The idea behind it: We only absorb about half of the glucosamine through the intestine, the rest is available to the bacteriaIn preclinical studies, the Supplementation of glucosamine can increase the number of potentially health-promoting bacteria, while at the same time suppressing the more harmful bacteria.
Glucosamine as an autophagy enhancer
The researchers attribute the potential longevity effects of glucosamine to its ability to increase autophagy. Autophagy is the cell's own recycling system, which no longer functions as efficiently as we age. Altered autophagy is therefore one of the hallmarks of aging.
Glucosamine activates via various signaling pathways, including mTOR pathway, autophagy in the body, similar to Fast it does. In this context, it is often also examined spermidineImproved autophagy is associated with several health benefits and this pathway is probably responsible for the positive results in animals.
The molecular mechanism of action of glucosamine could also possibly explain why glucosamine is more effective in arthritis than in osteoarthritis. As you may remember, in arthritis, the inflammation a crucial role. Glucosamine works, among other things, via the NF-kB pathway and thus reduces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This means that there are fewer messenger substances that promote inflammation.
Did you know? Fasting also works on a molecular level. It is one of the most effective methods to activate autophagy in the body. A similar approach has been fasting mimetics. These are molecules that make the body think it is lacking nutrients, even though there is none. This way you can support autophagy, without fasting. Fasting mimetics include glucosamine, berberine and spermidine. You can get all three together in our fasting bundle.
Glucosamine and its effect on blood sugar
Regarding blood sugar and glucosamine, there are various studies, which take a closer look at the interaction. First of all, one has to differentiate between people who already have a disturbed sugar metabolism (Iinsulin resistance) (or already have manifest diabetes mellitus). For these people, every additional gram of sugar per day can make management more difficult.
On the other hand, a Increased glucosamine intake in non-diabetics has been linked to a lower incidence of diabetesEven though this was only an observational study, over 400,000 people were included.
Another point is the question of weight gain. In some animal experiments, the supplemented mice showed a higher body weight. However, these results could not be reproduced in humans.
Conclusion
Glucosamine is a scientifically well-researched and widely sold dietary supplement. The research on joint and knee pain is not yet entirely clear. New large studies tend towards a demonstrable effectHowever, in the context of longevity research, glucosamine could be a promising substance in the fight against aging.
Here, too, there is still some scientific work to be done to discover the molecule's full potential in various organisms. Until then, it will be exciting to see what research will be carried out in the coming years in relation to our aging process and what role glucosamine plays in it. The current studies suggest great things.
