When to take Glucosamine | PlanYourVitamins.com

What is glucosamine good for?

Short answer: Glucosamine has potential benefits for joint health and inflammation.

Glucosamine is what is known as an amino sugar, and there is growing interest in its anti-inflammatory properties. Specifically, glucosamine is being researched for its potential in treating joint issues and supporting joint health, which it achieves through several mechanisms.

Role in joint health

Firstly, due to the way in which glucosamine reduces inflammation in synovial cells, which are the cells responsible for the formation of synovial fluid found inside joints, and secondly, due to how it promotes the healthy development of articular cartilage. The combined effect of the fluid and the cartilage allow your joints to move smoothly with minimal friction when everything is working as it should.

Benefits for treating joint conditions

Thanks to these joint-friendly properties, glucosamine could offer long-term treatment for diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even osteoporosis, as well as slowing the progression of these diseases. Glucosamine's anti-inflammatory effects are also being studied within the context of other conditions caused by inflammation, such as type 2 diabetes.

When should I take glucosamine?

Short answer: Glucosamine is best taken with a meal, at any time of day.

Glucosamine has been known to cause mild side effects when taken on an empty stomach, such as heartburn, indigestion, nausea, or diarrhea, so for this reason it is recommended to take it with a meal, although there does not seem to be a particular time of day best suited for taking glucosamine, so you can take it at any time of day, with the meal that you prefer.

What does glucosamine combine well with?

Short answer: Glucosamine has been shown to work well together with chondroitin, MSM and manganese.

Glucosamine with chondroitin, for joint health

Glucosamine is often taken in combination with chondroitin, another compound involved in the growth and maintenance of healthy joint cartilage, and you will often see formulations targetted at treating joint issues that include both.

There is a growing body of research that supports this, although there is also an element of controversy, as not all experts agree that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is as effective as some studies suggest.

This disconnect is suspected to have arisen from the difference in the grade and quality of the supplements that are involved in each trial, so if you want to give it a go, make sure you don't go for the cheapest option in either case.

Glucosamine with chondroitin & manganese, for joint health

Some other studies have incorporated manganese, in the form of manganese ascorbate, together with the aforementioned combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, finding that this particular mix is quite effective in pain relief for people that are suffering from osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine with chondroitin & MSM, for joint health

Another study found similar results by combining glucosamine with chondroitin and MSM, also known as methylsulfonylmethane, with notable improvement in both pain and mobility for people suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee, compared to those who took only glucosamine and chondroitin.

What should I avoid taking glucosamine with?

Short answer: Avoid taking glucosamine supplements at the same time as acetaminophen (paracetamol/tylenol) or blood thinners.

Avoid with blood-thinning medication or acetaminophen

Taking glucosamine together with acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol or Tylenol, could reduce the effectiveness of both.

Also, if you choose to combine glucosamine with chondroitin, this could increase the effects of any anticoagulant or blood-thinning medications that you might be taking, so it is advisable to avoid taking them together.

What are natural sources of glucosamine?

Sadly there are no significant food sources of glucosamine, as this is a compound that is extracted from the shells of shrimp, lobsters, and crabs, which we cannot digest.

Glucosamine data sources & further reading

Last updated by Asklepios on 30th January, 2025