Types Of Glucosamine
There are two main types of glucosamine found in supplements: glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate. A third type of supplement is the glucosamine + chondroitin supplement where two different compounds have been combined in the same pill.

Since these different types of glucosamine are far from identical, results from studies using one of them can not automatically be considered true for all other types of glucosamine. When you hear facts regarding glucosamine, it is therefore always important to ask what or which types of glucosamine that the particular study used.

Since glucosamine is a heavily studied subject, several research projects have been carried out where researchers have tried to establish whether there is any substantial difference between glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate when it comes to treating various human illnesses. The results are conflicting and it is hard to know for sure. We know that glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate varies a lot chemically, but we do not know what effects, if any, this can have when using glucosamine to treat health problems. What we do know is that the human body is capable of absorbing glucosamine from both types of glucosamine supplements.

Types of Glucosamine: Glucosamine hydrochloride
To make glucosamine supplements out of glucosamine hydrochloride is very popular, because in this hydrochloric form, glucosamine is absorbed very rapidly by the gastrointestinal tract. When you take these types of glucosamine supplements, you can expect the glucosamine to have been absorbed within 15-30 minutes. By converting normally insoluble amines into their hydrochloric form, it is possible for supplement manufacturers to make them soluble in water as well as in acid. You create hydrochloride salts by letting an organic base react with hydrochloric acid. Compared to glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride is more concentrated.

Types of Glucosamine: Glucosamine sulfate
Glucosamine sulfate is another popular form of glucosamine, and it has been used in many studies where glucosamine have shown to have a beneficial effect on human illnesses. It is however hard to understand how sulfate could possibly contribute to the beneficial properties of glucosamine, because the human blood stream is always filled with sulfate. When glucosamine sulfate is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, the bonds are broken and sulfate ions enter the blood stream without being connected to glucosamine.

If have been placed on a low-sodium diet due to high blood pressure, it is important to keep in mind that sodium is used to stabilize glucosamine sulfate. Some types of glucosamine sulfate supplements will contain up to 30% sodium. It is however possible to find glucosamine sulfate supplements with a lower sodium content. Always check the sodium content in your supplements and make sure that you cut down on salty food to balance the increased sodium intake from your supplements.

Types of Glucosamine: Glucosamine + Chondroitin
Glucosamine and chondroitin is sometimes combined in supplements, since many people feel that their arthritis get better when they ingest this combination.