N-acetylglucosamine

N-acetylglucosamine is a chemical derived from shellfish shells.

Do not confuse N-acetylglucosamine with other forms of glucosamine, such as glucosamine hydrochloride or glucosamine sulfate. They may not have the same effect.

Read glucosamine product labels carefully. Most glucosamine products contain glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. Although glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride are marketed together with N-acetylglucosamine as combination products, there have not been any human studies evaluating these combinations for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

You may also see chitosan as an ingredient in some glucosamine products. Chitosan is a chemically altered form of N-acetylglucosamine.

N-acetylglucosamine is used to treat osteoarthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

How does it work?

N-acetylglucosamine may help protect the lining of the stomach and intestines.

There is insufficient evidence to assess effectiveness:

• Inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease . There is some early evidence that taking N-acetylglucosamine orally or rectally may reduce IBD symptoms in children with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Osteoarthritis .
• Other conditions .

More evidence is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of N-acetylglucosamine for these uses.

There is not enough information to know whether N-acetylglucosamine is safe.

There is concern that glucosamine products may cause allergic reactions in people with shellfish sensitivities. Glucosamine is produced from the shells of shrimp, lobster and crab. But people with shellfish allergies experience allergic reactions caused by the flesh of the shellfish, not the shell. There have been no reports of glucosamine allergic reactions in people with shellfish allergies. On the positive side, there is also some information suggesting that people with shellfish allergies can safely take glucosamine products.

There is also concern that glucosamine may increase the amount of insulin in the body. Too much insulin may lead to high blood pressure and increased levels of cholesterol and other blood fats called triglycerides. While animal studies appear to confirm that glucosamine can increase cholesterol, researchers have not found this effect in humans. In fact, research results to date indicate that glucosamine sulfate does not appear to cause increases in blood pressure or cholesterol levels in people over the age of 45 who take glucosamine sulfate for up to 3 years.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding : Not enough is known about the use of N-acetylglucosamine during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay safe and avoid using.

Asthma : Researchers aren't sure why, but glucosamine may make asthma worse in some people. If you have asthma, be careful when trying to take glucosamine.

Diabetes : Some early research suggests that glucosamine may raise blood sugar in people with diabetes. However, more reliable research shows that glucosamine does not appear to significantly affect blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. You can take glucosamine safely as long as you monitor your blood sugar regularly.

Surgery : N-acetylglucosamine may affect blood sugar levels and may interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking N-acetylglucosamine at least 2 weeks before scheduled surgery.

Warfarin (Coumadin) Interaction Score: Serious . Do not take this combination.

Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. There are several reports that taking glucosamine with or without chondroitin can increase the clotting effects of warfarin (Coumadin). This may cause severe bruising and bleeding. Do not take glucosamine if you are taking warfarin (Coumadin).

Cancer Drug (Chemotherapy) Interaction Rating: Moderate Use this combination with caution. Talk to your health provider.

There is concern that N-acetylglucosamine may make certain cancer drugs less effective. But it's too early to tell whether this interaction occurs.

Diabetes Medications (Antidiabetic Drugs) Interaction Rating: Moderate Use this combination with caution. Please consult your healthcare provider.
There is concern that glucosamine may increase blood sugar in people with diabetes. There are also concerns that glucosamine may make diabetes medications less effective. However, research now suggests that glucosamine may not increase blood sugar in people with diabetes. Therefore, glucosamine may not interfere with diabetes medications. As a matter of caution, if you take N-acetylglucosamine and have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely.

Some medications used to treat diabetes include

• Glimepiride (Amaryl)
• Glibenclamide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase)
• Insulin, pioglitazone (Actos)
• Rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• Chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
• Glipizide (Glucotrol)
• Tolbutamide (Orinase)

Acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) Interaction Rating: Minor Use this combination with caution. Please talk to your healthcare provider.

There is concern that taking glucosamine and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) together may affect the effectiveness of each. But more information is needed to know whether this interaction is a big problem.

The appropriate dosage of N-acetylglucosamine depends on a variety of factors, such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. There is currently insufficient scientific information to determine the appropriate dosage range for N-acetylglucosamine. Keep in mind that natural products are not always safe, and dosage matters. Always follow the directions on the product label and consult your pharmacist or doctor or other health care professional before use.