Is glucosamine hydrochloride capsule a good medicine for treating osteoarthritis?

Abnormal temperature changes or holiday syndrome leading to excessive exercise after the holidays may "awaken" osteoarthritis and quietly "rule the roost" in your body; lying down at home all day, your legs can't be straightened after waking up; your knees ache when the temperature drops; your knees often feel sore and painful when you walk up the stairs occasionally at home... These may be "provocations" from osteoarthritis, and we can "deal" with it with glucosamine. There are two main mainstream products on the market: glucosamine hydrochloride capsules and glucosamine sulfate capsules. So, what is the difference between these two types of glucosamine? How should we choose to treat osteoarthritis?

Glucosamine hydrochloride capsules vs. glucosamine sulfate capsules, the difference is clear in three aspects

Although both glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate are glucosamine and can treat osteoarthritis, glucosamine hydrochloride is the hydrochloride of a monosaccharide, while glucosamine sulfate is a complex salt formed by a disaccharide and sodium chloride. Due to the differences in their chemical molecular structures, there are differences in their efficacy, safety and absorbability.

First, in terms of efficacy, glucosamine sulfate, represented by Vigor (China's first glucosamine sulfate OTC brand), has an efficacy of up to 15 hours and can work more persistently [[1]]. A meta-analysis by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), one of the world's four top medical journals, also showed that when compared with 33 commonly used drugs included in the study, including glucosamine hydrochloride products, Vigor's glucosamine sulfate capsules have the best efficacy in relieving pain [[2]].

Secondly, in terms of safety, glucosamine hydrochloride produces chloride ions that irritate the stomach and intestines. In comparison, glucosamine sulfate is gentler on the gastrointestinal tract and is safer [3]. Moreover, glucosamine sulfate is relatively stable, and its long-term safety has been fully verified. Therefore, elderly osteoarthritis patients with fragile stomachs can take it with confidence.

Finally, in terms of absorption, the main component of glucosamine sulfate is sulfate, which is already present in the human body. This makes glucosamine sulfate more easily absorbed in the body. After oral administration, 90% of glucosamine sulfate is absorbed into the systemic circulation.[4] In contrast, the absorption rate of glucosamine hydrochloride is limited by the hydrochloride radical, which affects its absorbability.

Glucosamine sulfate capsules represented by Vigor are preferred to repair joint cartilage from the root and significantly relieve pain

Viagra is an OTC analgesic and is also China's first brand of glucosamine sulfate. It treats osteoarthritis by promoting cartilage synthesis and delaying cartilage degeneration and narrowing of joint spaces, taking a two-pronged approach to address joint problems at the root.

Specifically, on the one hand, Vigor can quickly increase the rate of proteoglycan synthesis and significantly accelerate the synthesis process of cartilage, thereby effectively repairing damaged cartilage tissue, promoting the anabolism of chondrocytes, and providing strong support for cartilage repair.

On the other hand, it can also inhibit the loss of cartilage components, help slow the progression of osteoarthritis, and protect articular cartilage from further damage.

Because of its good efficacy and high safety, therapeutic-grade glucosamine sulfate such as Vicosurf is used by osteoarthritis patients in more than 60 countries around the world and has been used in clinical practice for more than 30 years. Its efficacy and safety have been recognized by international authoritative medical journals JAMA and The Lancet. The 2019 ESCEO European Society for Clinical Economics of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis guidelines strongly recommend that therapeutic-grade glucosamine sulfate such as Vicosurf can be used as an OTC recommended drug for long-term basic treatment of osteoarthritis [[[5]].

Excessive exercise, temperature changes and other factors can easily cause joint discomfort. If you feel abnormalities in your bones and joints, you need to check and adjust them as soon as possible. In daily treatment, compared with glucosamine hydrochloride capsules, it is recommended that you choose glucosamine sulfate capsules represented by Vigor, which are not only effective and safe, but also well absorbed by the human body, and can help osteoarthritis patients better cope with seasonal joint problems. In addition, you should also pay attention to protecting your joints in your daily life. Only by working together can you better protect your joints and help them become stronger.

References

[[1]] Meulyzer M, et al. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Sep; 16(9): 973-9.

[[2]] Gregori D, Giacovelli G, Minto C, et al. Association of Pharmacological Treatments with Long-term Pain Control in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis. Jama. 2018;320(24):2564. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.19319

[[3]] Reginster JY, Deroisy R, Rovati LC, et al. Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lancet. Jan 27 2001;357(9252):251-6. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03610-2

[[4]] Setnikar I. Arzneimittelforschung. 2001 Sep;51(9):699-725.

[[5]] BruyèreO, et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2019 Apr 30. pii:S0049-0172(19)30043-5.

Runhaar J, et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2016 Feb; 45(4 Suppl): S42-8.