Curcumin vs Glucosamine
Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.
Joint pain is a very common complaint among people of all age groups and often affects your daily activities such as walking, running, weight lifting, etc. Therefore, people are always looking for a way to cope with joint pain and try different products marketed as a joint pain remedy.
Many times, such products do not live up to their claims, and you still have to bear that constant pain in your joints. So, what can be done to help relieve the pain?
Well to begin with you must bring some modifications to your lifestyle. You should start eating healthy and try to include those foods in your diet that are good for joints. Fatty fish, leafy green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds are some of the food items that support joint health.
Another lifestyle modification that is needed to deal with joint pain is a moderate level of exercise. Although the diet and exercise have a huge impact on joint health, it is not a piece of cake for everyone, and sometimes your joints need additional support too.
For that purpose, you can opt for curcumin and glucosamine supplements that help to relieve joint pain and also support cartilage, ligaments, and tendons to uplift the overall health of your joints.
Follow the artilce below to learn more about curcumin and glucosamine supplements and how they can benefit your joints.
CURCUMIN
Curcumin is a yellow pigment mainly found in turmeric and serves as its primary bioactive compound. It is a polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties providing you with numerous health benefits.
Curcumin supplements focused on joint health prevent connective tissue degeneration so that your joints do not lose their strength. It also protects your joints against the harms of excess inflammation and oxidative stress and eliminates such substances from your body that can damage the joints.
Below is a brief description of the different benefits of curcumin that are centered around joint health:
COMBATS OXIDATIVE STRESS
Free radicals are known for their damaging effect on cells. Similarly, they can damage the lining of joints leading to inflammation and pain. Oxidative stress also causes cartilage degeneration and inhibits the synthesis of proteoglycans.
Curcumin fights free radicals and protects your body against the long-term damage resulting from oxidative stress. As a result, both the health and performance of your joints are improved.
REGULATES COX-2 AND MMP ENZYMES
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) are two enzymes that play a significant role in the degradation of joint tissue.
Typically upregulated in the settings of inflammation, cyclooxygenase-2 has a deteriorating effect on joints owing to its proinflammatory nature. MMP enzymes target the connective tissues associated with joints and weaken them by degrading the extracellular matrix proteins.
Curcumin helps to regulate COX-2 and MMP enzymes and protects your joints against the detrimental effects imparted by them.
ELIMINATES ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCTS
Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are a group of highly oxidant chemical compounds that damage your cells by means of inflammation and oxidative stress.
AEGs are often present in your diet and cause connective tissues to become stiff. Consequently, your joints lose their flexibility, and you also suffer from joint pain.
Regular curcumin consumption helps to eliminate these toxic compounds from your body and has a protective effect not only on your joints but also on your heart and brain.
GLUCOSAMINE
Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is naturally found in connective tissues surrounding your joints. It acts as a shock absorber and ensures smooth movement without any discomfort.
To increase your levels of glucosamine for better joint health, you can opt for glucosamine dietary supplements made using shellfish. These supplements support chondrocytes and protect the synovial fluid.
Following are some of the benefits of using glucosamine supplements for healthier and stronger joints:
SUPPORTS CHONDROCYTES
Chondrocytes are the only cells present within the cartilage tissues and produce extracellular matrix. Healthy chondrocyte activity is essential for maintaining cartilage flexibility and preventing degenerative changes.
Glucosamine supplements promote chondrocyte proliferation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and ensure that all the cartilage within your body, including those associated with joints, stay strong and healthy.
PROTECTS SYNOVIAL FLUID
Synovial fluid is a viscous non-Newtonian fluid that lubricates your joints and minimizes bone-to-bone friction. As a result, your joints become resilient to injury and allow smooth movements.
Anything that affects synovial fluid can cause joint pain both at rest and during movements. For that purpose, glucosamine supplementation protects synovial fluid against inflammatory damage and provides relief from pain.
PROMOTES PROTEOGLYCAN PRODUCTION
Proteoglycans are a group of heavily glycosylated proteins found in the extracellular matrix of all connective tissues. Chondrocytes produce proteoglycans using glucosamine as a precursor molecule.
Glucosamine supplements allow chondrocytes to make more proteoglycans which in turn promote cartilage repair and regeneration ensuring optimal joint health.
TO CONCLUDE
An unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and an aging population are some of the important reasons behind an ever-increasing rate of joint problems worldwide. These joint disorders not only cause pain but also hinder your performance in routine tasks.
Hence, it is need of the hour that you start eating foods that are beneficial for your joints and include some form of physical activity in your daily routine. To further support your joint health, you can also use dietary supplements such as curcumin or glucosamine.
Curcumin being an antioxidant, protects your joint against free radical damage and inflammation. It also regulates the enzymes involved in connective tissue degradation, consequently preventing loss of joint strength.
Glucosamine is naturally found in connective tissues surrounding your joints and when used as a supplement, it supports cartilage associated with joints. It also protects the synovial fluid and ensures that your joints are well lubricated.
It is recommended that you speak with your healthcare provider before starting curcumin or glucosamine supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications for any underlying health conditions.
Here you can check out Vorst’s Advance Joint Formula containing Glucosamine and Vorst's Curcumin Extract 600mg.
RESOURCES
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22407780/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7812094/