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What is the Big Deal with Vegetarian Glucosamine |
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Sunday, 08 July 2007 |
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These days becoming a vegetarian is almost as trendy as wearing the right clothes or shopping at the right stores; as a matter of fact, in today’s health conscious world it may be even more so. Should this trend extend to medications, however? Does it really make a great deal of difference to individuals where their medicines come from as long as they work? Science has shown that it is not only the moral principles involved that determine the appropriateness of a vegetarian medication; there may be certain health risks avoided as well.
Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children around the world suffer from osteoarthritis. This is a degeneration of the cartilage of the joints that results from injury or repetitive physical labor and causes the patient to suffer from a great deal of immobility and pain in the joint area. To date no cure for this condition exists; however, scientists are hoping that the ability to artificially introduce glucosamine (the precursor to the substances that make up the tissues of the joints) to the body may be this miracle cure. Glucosamine levels in the body decrease as people age, making it more difficult for the joints to repair themselves. This is why osteoarthritis is commonly found among the elderly. Unfortunately, glucosamine is not without its risks. Like many other medications it is derived from an organic substance; in this case, the shell of a shellfish. While it has been shown that the allergen that causes anaphylaxis in patients with shellfish allergies is found in the body of the shellfish rather than its shell ordinary glucosamine has yet to be found one hundred percent safe for these individuals. Is it fair for them to be denied the curative powers of glucosamine solely because they suffer from an allergy over which they have no control? Scientists think not, and consequently have come up with an alternate source of glucosamine specifically for this population. Vegetarian glucosamine is derived from corn rather than shellfish, and therefore is not only safe for those who suffer from shellfish allergies but is acceptable for use by those who have chosen a vegan lifestyle as well. The truly wonderful thing about vegetarian glucosamine is that the guidelines for its use are identical to those of shellfish derived glucosamine, making the switchover easy for patients. Glucosamine should be taken in doses of 1500 mg or more per day and is most effective when swallowed in its liquid form, as this allows the body to rapidly absorb and digest it. Again, this is exceptionally noteworthy because of the large percentage of the senior population who suffer from osteoarthritis; as people age their digestive systems begin to break down as well, making it more difficult for the body to digest medications. Glucosamine liquid helps to facilitate this process. egetarian glucosamine is not only a matter of principle, it’s a matter of health. Patients interested in trying vegetarian glucosamine to treat their osteoarthritis should speak with their physician as soon as possible. |
