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GLUCOSAMINE SULPHATE
ostop provides nutrients essential for maintaining healthy joints, connective tissue, cartilage, and bone; and promotes optimal joint flexibility, function, and range of motion.*
How and Why It Works
Glucosamine Sulfate: Glucosamine is essential for normal glycosaminoglycan synthesis, which begins with the synthesis of a core protein pool that is transported to specialized compartments within secretory cells such as cartilage cells. Next, sugar residues, including glucosamines, are added to the core protein, followed by the rapid addition of an extremely large number of long glycosaminoglycan chains. The addition of sulfur to the aminosugar residues occurs almost simultaneously in cartilage cells and in cells from which connective tissue is developed (fibroblasts). Thus, one hypothesis for enhanced cartilage repair is to provide sufficient glucosamine to ensure rapid synthesis of glycosaminoglycans. Enhanced synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans may then be able to overcome the degradation that occurs during joint disease and after injury.
Glucosamine may also offer other health benefits. It has been suggested that the health benefit of oral glucosamine in osteoarthritis--a disease characterized by a net loss of joint cartilage and an increase in the amount of enzymes that break down proteoglycans--may be due to increased synthesis of cartilage proteoglycans. Ingested glucosamine may likewise enhance heparan sulfate production in endothelial cells of blood vessels thereby acting to reduce artery-clogging damage. A similar glucosamine-mediated increase in heparan sulfate production in certain types of skin cells may provide a therapeutic benefit for psoriasis.
Glucosamine may also have clinical value in postsurgical wound healing. Normal hyaluronic acid synthesis is a function of glucosamine availability. Rapid production of hyaluronic acid by fibroblasts in the early stages of wound healing may be crucial as hyaluronic acid stimulates the migration and division of mesenchymal and epithelial cells. Epithelial cells are the cells that form the epidermis of the skin and the surface layer of mucous and serous (secreting) membranes; mesenchymal cells are cells that give rise to various tissues including connective tissues such as cartilage and bone. Thus, consuming adequate amounts of glucosamine during the first few days after surgery or trauma may enhance hyaluronic acid production in the wound, promote swifter healing, and possibly diminish complications related to scarring.
Safety: No safety problems have been observed with oral dosages of glucosamine sulfate at levels up to 1500 mg/day.
Who Would or Should Use the Product
Primary target consumer group(s): consumers who desire symptomatic relief of pain and inflammation associated with degenerative joint conditions such as arthritis, and who would like to rebuild damaged cartilage and maintain healthy cartilage.
Secondary target consumer group(s): consumers who desire symptomatic relief of pain and inflammation associated with joint injury, and who would like to rebuild damaged cartilage and maintain healthy cartilage.
Tertiary target consumer group(s): healthy consumers who would like to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients important for joint health.
Who Should Not Use the Product
Pregnant and nursing women should not use this product, nor should people with gastric or duodenal ulcers. People taking medication for arrythmia and those with gallstones should use this product only after consultant with a physician.
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