Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is a highly popular natural supplement that is used extensively for the treatment of arthritis. Despite some claims that glucosamine does nothing to help osteoarthritis, people still continue to take it. Despite all the good associated with this product, there is research that is indicating a link between glucosamine and insulin resistance.
The reason many people believe insulin resistance is possible is that it is believed that glucosamine can block the path that glucose uses when it is going to the cells. Despite this theory, there has been no real evidence on humans to suggest that glucosamine is responsible for the resistance to insulin.
A study conducted in the United States over a period of 6 weeks had volunteers taking standard doses of glucosamine sulphate. The results of this showed that the people who were overweight saw a decrease in the function of insulin and there was an increase in LDL cholesterol levels as well as triglycerides. It was also noted that the arteries started to become stiffer.
Another study that was done on rats showed the opposite. Two control groups of rats were give glucosamine over a period of 9 weeks. During this time the insulin levels were measured. The results after the study showed no significant difference between the two groups.
The result from the study on the rats concluded that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate does not contribute to insulin resistance.
In the human study there needed to be more research done on a much wider scale for them to be sure that glucosamine was responsible for insulin resistance in the body.