THE SCIENCE BEHIND ULTIMATE GLUCOSAMINE®
Glucosamine Can Stimulate The Production of
Macromolecules - Evidence


Glucosamine Stimulated Proteoglycan Synthesis in Human Chondrocytes In Vitro

Chondrocytes were isolated from human osteoarthritic femoral heads taken at the time of surgery for total hip replacement1. The chondrocytes were incubated in a culture media containing 0, 1, 10 or 100 micrograms per mL of glucosamine base. At 4, 8, and 12 days the culture media and the chondrocytes clusters were analyzed for proteoglycans, collagen II and DNA.

Glucosamine stimulated the production of proteoglycans in a dose dependent manner over the twelve-day course of the experiment. Proteoglycan production in the 1, 10 and 100 microgram per mL groups was approximately 0, 30 and 50% higher respectively than in the control group. Chromatographic profiles of the proteoglycans indicate that the form of the proteoglycans produced under conditions of high glucosamine were not different from the control. Collagen II production was not effected. DNA synthesis, determined using a tritiated thymidine pulse, was the same in all groups. This experiment indicates that proteoglycans can be stimulated under conditions of glucosamine supplementation. The stimulation is specific for proteoglycans because collagen II values were not affected and the number of cells, as determine by DNA synthesis, was the same for all of the groups.

N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine Stimulates the Production of Hyaluronic Acid and Chondroitin Sulphate in Human Peritoneal Cells and Fibroblasts In Vitro

Human peritoneal mesothelial cells and fibroblasts were isolated from omentum removed at surgery2. The cells were propagated in culture and exposed to various concentrations of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine or glucose. Supplementation with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine caused a dose dependent increase in hyaluronan and sulphated glycosaminoglycan synthesis by mesothelial cells and fibroblasts, whereas glucose used at the same concentrations inhibited that process. The effect was seen at the lowest concentration investigated, 10 mM and reached a maximum at 40 mM. Hyaluronic acid synthesis was time dependent with statistically significant increases as 2, 4 and 8 hours. The time required for chondroitin sulphate production to increase significantly above control values was 24 hours and continued to increase over the 72 hour duration of the experiment.

This experiment with human cells supports the hypothesis that N-acetyl-D-glucosamine supplementation can stimulate the production of two essential components of connective tissue, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate.





1 Bassleer, C. Rovati, L. and Franchimont, P. (1998) "Stimulation of proteoglycan production by glucosamine sulfate in chondrocytes isolated from human osteoarthritic articular cartilage in vitro." Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (1998) 6: 427-434.

2 Brebrowicz, A. Kuzlan, M. et al. (1998) "The effect of N-acetylglucosamine as a substrate for In Vitro synthesis of glycosaminoglycans by human peritoneal mesothelial cells and fibroblasts." Advances in Peritoneal Dialysis 14:31 - 35







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