Are There Any Foods That Contain Glucosamine?

Glucosamine sulfate supplements are usually taken to ease joint pain caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Natural sources of glucosamine are limited mostly to the shells of shellfish, which are commonly used to make glucosamine supplements, although supplements can also be synthesized in a laboratory.

There are different forms of glucosamine including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride and N-acetyl glucosamine. Most of the scientific research on glucosamine is on glucosamine sulfate.

Glucosamine is a natural compound found in healthy cartilage — the tough tissue that cushions joints — and particularly in the fluid around the joints.

For dietary supplements, glucosamine is harvested from the shells of shellfish (like shrimp, lobster and crab) or made synthetically in a laboratory.

There are no natural food sources of glucosamine other than shellfish shells, per the Mayo Clinic. But, there are many supplements available. You will often see glucosamine sold in combination with chondroitin sulfate in a supplement form.

There are many conditions for which glucosamine sulfate supplements are recommended with little scientific backing, in addition to osteoarthritis. These include:

• Joint pain caused by drugs called aromatase inhibitors (aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgias)
• Heart disease
• Knee pain
• Multiple sclerosis
• Recovery after surgery
• Stroke
• Jaw pain
• Glaucoma (a group of eye disorders that can lead to vision loss).
• Joint pain
• Painful bladder syndrome
• Weight loss

Taking glucosamine sulfate can provide some pain relief for people with osteoarthritis, particularly osteoarthritis of the knees, although not enough to prevent the need for pain medication during flare-ups, per the National Library of Medicine.

Still, evidence is inconclusive as to whether this supplement is actually effective. A July 2016 study in ‌Arthritis and Rheumatology‌ studied chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate combination therapy to reduce joint pain and functional impairment in people with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis over 6 months. The study did not find any real reduction of joint pain among users compared with those taking a placebo.

In general, glucosamine and glucosamine supplements are believed to be safe for most people. Potential risks, according to Harvard Health Publishing, include:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Heartburn
• Drowsiness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Skin reactions
• Allergic reactions, especially for people with an existing allergy to shellfish

In addition, there are several different kinds of glucosamine products on the market. Research showing benefits usually relates to glucosamine sulfate while products that contain glucosamine hydrochloride are generally found to be less effective, per the Arthritis Foundation.

• ‌Warfarin:‌ Taking the blood clotting medication warfarin with glucosamine supplements could increase the risk of bleeding.
• ‌Acetaminophen (Tylenol):‌ There is also some concern that taking glucosamine for joints along with acetaminophen may affect how each medication works.