Glucosamine/Chonroitin and Insulin Resistance

[Kellen Love]

I didn't know where to put this thread, so I put it under fat loss. I recently read that glucosamine/chonroitin supplements could lead to insulin resistance. This concerns me because I have had two knee surgeries, and supplementing with glucosamine has greatly helped how my joints work. But I am also currently a fat ass (working on it), and I have gone paleo and low carb to try and reverse my insulin resistance and lose weight. Does anyone believe that glucosamine could lead to insulin resistance? Does anyone have an opinons or has anyone seen any studies leading to this conclusion. Interestingly, the place where I read this had no studies to prove it, and I haven't looked it up yet, was just curious for some input. Thanks for you time, and I love the site.

Kellen

[Garrett Smith]

If you have found glucosamine to be helpful to you and you are concerned about insulin resistance, you may be interested in a product called "Ultimate Glucosamine":

Unlike glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is an advanced molecule that requires fewer enzymatic steps before being incorporated into hyaluronan or cartilage.
The glucosamine in glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride has been associated with insulin resistance. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine does not use the insulin pathway to enter into cells of the body and has not been associated with insulin resistance.

That could solve all your issues right there.

[Scott Kustes]

If it uses the insulin pathways, would taking it with food when there is going to be some circulating insulin be another way to mitigate the risks?

[Garrett Smith]

Scott,
I would guess so--then again, I don't know if those studies associating the two were done taking the pills with food or without. If they were taken with food and still associated with creating more insulin resistance than the control, I'd guess you would have the answer right there.

That product does look interesting, bypassing many enzyme pathways--somewhat analagous to the conversion between the O-3 fatty acids...