host posted on May 13, 2011 13:15
Pets often develop degenerative disorders as they age. Over time, the body produces less of the nutrients needed to keep its many functions working properly. This is particularly relevant for the degeneration that can occur in the joints of the pet's body. The normal wear and tear of common activities take a toll on the ability of the joint to efficiently balance the body's weight and motion. Injuries can further exacerbate the condition. Such deficiencies can result in chronic pain and stiffness. Until recently, alleviating the pain associated with this degenerative process has been the primary focus of the clinician. Today, with a growing understanding of the structure of the joint, new avenues of treatment are emerging which can both decrease pain and restore some of the joint's abilities.
Cartilage is composed of collagen, a ropy protein that connects tissues and gives cartilage its tensile strength. Proteoglycans are also an essential component of cartilage and consist of hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). GAGs have water-structuring properties that give cartilage its compressive resilience. These tissues are encased in a sac-like capsule called the synovium. The sac shields the joint and produces a joint-lubricating, nutrient-rich liquid known as synovial fluid. Because cartilage is largely non-cellular and is not replenished by the blood supply, it is reliant on the synovial fluid and the connective tissue's ability to repair itself by manufacturing the essential components of cartilage.
The Benefits of Glucosamine Supplementation
Glucosamine is a nutrient found naturally in the pet's body and is an essential precursor for the body's production of connective tissue components. Glucosamine enhances the ability of connective tissue such as cartilage to bind to water which serves to both funnel nutrients into the cartilage and to generate the shock-absorbing properties of the tissue. Increasing level of Glucosamine can both stimulate production of the "building blocks" of connective tissue and repair the damage caused to it over time.
Glucosamine is an amino-monosaccharide naturally produced by the body from the reaction of glucose and glutamine. This initial reaction is considered to be the rate-limiting step in the process by which the body replenishes the GACs and proteoglycans required to maintain healthy cartilage. As pets age, the levels of Glucosamine produced naturally by the body decrease. The synovial fluid encasing the joint degrades, growing less able to transport nutrients and thinning its viscosity to that of water. The pain and discomfort of osteoarthritis results from this degradation, creating friction between the joint.
Since conditions such as osteoarthritis results from an excessive rate of degradation as compared to rate of synthesis, it follows that increasing the availability of Glucosamine will increase the production of cartilage proteoglycans including chondroitin sulfate and therefore decrease joint pain and increase flexibility. The conversion of glucose to Glucosamine can not be accelerated, but we can increase the body's supply of Glucosamine with dietary supplementation. Glucosamine enhances the water retention properties of GACs restoring the joint's shock-absorbing capacities lost during degeneration.
GAGs have three distinct therapeutic functions:
- They act as precursors for rebuilding polysaccharide chains in damaged connective tissues.
- They provide lubricating properties to the synovial fluid and protect joint surfaces.
- Inhibit free radicals that are considered to be responsible for the biochemical events of aging and tissue degeneration.