Glucosamine and Healthy Aging
I almost always recommend prioritizing nutrition and lifestyle interventions over supplements when it comes to health and vitality. However, once the right foundations are in place, supplements can make a big impact in helping people reach optimal health. Think of them as extra credit!
Not sure if you have your health foundations in place? I cover some nutrition and lifestyle basics to in my FREE Ultimate Guide to Living Healthier Longer. It includes 10 strategies to optimize your biology for long-term vitality.
Glucosamine is a chemical already found in the body, occurring widely in connective tissue, such as the tissue that cushions joints. It is also commonly found in shellfish and fungi, which is what many of the supplements available are derived from. It is what’s called an amino sugar and is a building block for important proteins and lipids.
You may have heard of glucosamine in relation to joint pain and relief of arthritis symptoms. It is a dietary supplement widely used for this. However, new research shows that its benefits go far beyond that. Science is now viewing it as a potential anti-aging drug.
It is well-chosen and stands out for multiple reasons. All of which may surprise you and cause you to quickly add it to your daily supplement routine, like I have.
Mimics Calorie Restriction
Caloric restriction has long been known to extend healthspan (the time in our lives we are healthy) and longevity, but actually restricting calories consistently is HARD. Who wants to be habitually hungry? Food is good. Restrictions on eating can also be triggering for some, especially in women, leading to binges and unhealthy emotional eating. And if caloric restriction and/or fasting is not done properly, we can end up with nutrient deficiencies as a result.
So how can we get the positive effects without feeling deprived? Enter glucosamine. Recent research showed that the use of glucosamine actually mimics the effects of calorie restriction in the body, providing anti-aging benefits as a result. This is a very exciting scientific discovery as it is a low-effort and relatively low-cost anti-aging intervention strategy.
Inhibits Mitochondrial Damage
Mitochondria is known as the powerhouse of the cell, generating Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a source of chemical energy. Mitochondria naturally declines over time. This decline is tightly linked with aging and age-related diseases. Basically, we want to keep our mitochondria alive and functioning well for as long as possible. The speed at which this decline occurs is largely up to us, and there are actions we can take to slow it down. A lot of this comes down to lifestyle behaviors, but recent research shows that the use of glucosamine could also play a role.
Glucosamine has been shown to inhibit damage to existing mitochondria, keeping them healthier for longer. Studies have also revealed that glucosamine causes cells to create more mitochondria. This is called mitochondrial biogenesis, or the birth of new mitochondria.
Anti-inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory aspects of glucosamine are what originally lead to its use for arthritic symptoms, which are caused primarily by inflammation of the joints. Glucosamine inhibits the product of inflammatory response molecules in the body, such as cytokines and prostaglandins through suppression of certain pathways related to inflammation.
Induces Autophagy
Autophagy is a Greek word that literally translated to “self-eating.” It is a cellular process that where the body targets old, unstable cells and removes the damaged components to make new healthy cells. Autophagy is a recycling process that helps slow aging, reduce inflammation, and rid the body of unwanted toxins.
Induction of autophagy is one of the promising interventions in the reduction and treatment of age-related diseases, such as Parkinson’s and cardiovascular disease. There are multiple ways to activate autophagy. Surprise, surprise - taking glucosamine is one of them.
Slows Skin Aging
Glucosamine is known to stimulate the synthesis of collagen in the skin. Collagen is part of what gives skin it’s smoothness and elasticity. Collagen naturally decreases over time--young skin contains more collagen than old skin. Studies show that glucosamine has a positive effect on skin aging, skin hydration, and wrinkle reduction.
Blood Sugar Benefits
The effects of glucosamine on insulin resistance are currently controversial and much of the existing research is contradictory. Some cite glucosamine as mediating insulin response and managing glucose toxicity by slowing glucose metabolism. Others show the opposite. The difference in results suggest that it may be beneficial for humans, but not mice. With blood sugar being a primary predictor of longevity and the wide prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes, more research is needed here.
If you are interested in supplement recommendations or a personalized supplement plan, reach out to me here or book a free intro call.
Sources:
Chui, HW., Li, LH., Hsieh, CY. et al. (2019). Glucosamine inhibits IL-1β expression by preserving mitochondrial integrity and disrupting assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Scientific Reports, vol. 9 (5603). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42130-z
Gueniche, A. & Castiel-Higounenc, I. (2017). Efficacy of Glucosamine Sulphate in Skin Ageing: Results from an ex vivo Anti-Ageing Model and a Clinical Trial. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, vol. 30, 36-41. https://doi.org/10.1159/000450832
T Monauni, M G Zenti, A Cretti, M C Daniels, G Targher, B Caruso, M Caputo, D McClain, S Del Prato, A Giaccari, M Muggeo, E Bonora, R C Bonadonna. (2000). Effects of glucosamine infusion on insulin secretion and insulin action in humans. Diabetes, vol. 49 (6), 926-935. https://doi.org/10.2337/diabetes.49.6.926
Shintani, T., Yamazaki, F., Katoh, T., Umekawa, M., Matahira, Y. Hori, S., Kakizuka, A., Totani, K., Yamamoto, K., Ashida, H. (2010). Glucosamine induces autophagy via an mTOR-independent pathway. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 391 (4), 1775-1779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.12.154.
Weimer, S., Priebs, J., Kuhlow, D. et al. (2014). D-Glucosamine supplementation extends life span of nematodes and of ageing mice. Nat Commun, vol. 5, 3563. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4563