Glucosamine is one of the most abundant naturally occurring monosaccharides (simple sugars) and one of the most popular dietary supplements sold over-the-counter that aren’t classified as vitamin or mineral. Several forms other than glucosamine sulfate are available, including glucosamine hydrochloride, glucosamine chondroitin and N-acetylglucosamine. However, these other forms are not as readily bioavailable nor interchangeable with glucosamine sulfate.
Glucosamine sulfate is classified as a nutraceutical, which is defined as a food or fortified food that not only supports a healthy diet but that may also mitigate symptoms associated with certain health conditions. In this case, glucosamine sulfate is reputed to and often recommended by many health care practitioners to reduce discomfort experienced with certain inflammatory disorders, especially osteoarthritis. It is also widely used in veterinary medicine for the same conditions in animals. In terms of efficacy, clinical studies to date have produced mixed results. However, supplementation with glucosamine sulfate powder may be a practical alternative for people (and animals) who cannot tolerate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
It is not known if glucosamine sulfate provides analgesic effects when applied topically. But because this compound is known to stimulate skin cells to synthesize hyaluronic acid, which plays a role in wound healing and moisture retention, glucosamine sulfate powder is an ingredient in various skin care products.
