Glucosamine Chondroitin Dosage

Glucosamine and chondroitin are the building blocks of cartilage and connecting tissues and are used to treat several diseases, especially arthritis. Glucosamine, an amino sugar, is naturally present in the human body. It enhances the production of certain proteins and lipids in the body. Chondroitin is also a naturally occurring nutrient and is present in the bodies of all mammals. Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), another natural compound, helps glucosamine and chondroitin in various essential body functions. It helps in maintaining the hormonal balance and controls the activity of enzymes in the body. Dietary supplements or combination tablets of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM are recommended for greater effectiveness in treating diseases like osteoarthritis.

Benefits of Glucosamine and Chondroitin

• Relieve chronic joint pain and swelling within the joint.
• Increases the articular cartilage depth on load bearing surfaces.
• Useful in the treatment of glaucoma, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, anemia and heart diseases.
• Along with improving the flexibility of joints, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate also promote weight loss.
• Improves the viscosity of synovial (lubricating) fluid by increasing the production of hyaluronic acid which is a component of synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is necessary for lubrication of joints.

Recommended Dosage

The maximum recommended dose of glucosamine is 1500 mg per day. It can be taken as a single dose or can be taken as 500 mg thrice a day. Many glucosamine chondroitin supplements contain vitamin C and the consumers need to check the quantity of vitamin C as well; because too much vitamin C can lead to quite a few highly avoidable side effects. The general recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C is 60 mg. The recommended dose of chondroitin sulfate is 1200 milligrams and this can be taken into divided doses.

If you are interested in knowing glucosamine chondroitin MSM dosage, then you will be glad to know that patients who have received oral methyl sulfonyl methane as part of their treatment show no toxic build-up, even after years of ingesting more than 2,000 mg of MSM each day. It seems that the body uses what it requires and flushes out the rest within 12 hours. Usually 1 - 3 g of MSM is prescribed, with 2 grams being the most commonly prescribed dosage.

The dose may vary from person to person. If you want to know how to calculate dosage by weight, 10 mg of glucosamine sulfate per pound of body weight, daily, divided into three doses is the most common way of prescribing it. For example, if a person weighs 200 pounds, 666 mg glucosamine (2000 mg divided by 3) three times a day will be recommended.

An increased dose of glucosamine chondroitin may be recommended for severe conditions. Patients need to inform the doctor about the routine medications so that the doctor might change the treatment or adjust the dose accordingly. Children, pregnant women and nursing moms should not take these supplements. Glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM can lower the insulin levels and so, people with diabetes should not consume these dietary supplements.

To avoid glucosamine chondroitin side effects, consumers should strictly follow the instructions regarding their dosage and they should read the labels carefully as the ingredients and their proportion may vary from brand to brand. These supplements should be taken under the guidance of a physician only. The guidelines provided in this article should not be construed as medical advice.