Glucosamine
Of 1,723 on-market glucosamine products in the January 2026 DSLD dump, the median declared dose is 1,166 mg, and 89.9% list Glucosamine Sulfate as the primary form.
Form share
Of 1,601 products with an identifiable primary form, here is the share held by each form of Glucosamine on the market today.
| Form | Quality tier | n | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucosamine Sulfate | Tier 1 | 1,439 | 89.9% |
| Glucosamine Sulfate 2KCl | Tier 2 | 113 | 7.1% |
| Glucosamine HCl (Hydrochloride) | Tier 2 | 49 | 3.1% |
Form share over time
Entry-year breakdown of the top forms, 2012–2025.
Dose distribution
Deciles of declared dose per serving (mg), among 1,446 products with a disclosed amount.
- 8.9% of products fall below the fairy-dust threshold (300 mg, 20% of the studied low dose).
- 9.3% of products don't disclose an amount because Glucosamine is declared inside a proprietary blend.
By dosage form
By target group
Top brands
Forms explained
The positive long-term European RCTs showing both symptomatic AND structural (joint-space) benefit used glucosamine sulfate specifically (largely a particular pharmaceutical-grade "Rotta" preparation); a 2005 Cochrane review found outcomes correlated with formulation/sponsor.
Source: Reginster JY et al. 2001, Lancet 357(9252):251-256; Pavelka K et al. 2002, Arch Intern Med 162(18):2113-2123; Towheed TE et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;(2):CD002946
The largest single trial (GAIT, NIH-funded, n>1,500) used glucosamine HCl and found NO significant overall benefit vs placebo -- weaker/more mixed evidence than sulfate for whole-population efficacy, though one Chinese multi-center RCT found HCl and sulfate equally effective head-to-head; the gap is debated, not settled.
Source: Clegg DO et al. 2006, NEJM 354(8):795-808 (GAIT); Qiu GX et al. 2005, Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 85(43):3067-3070
A stabilized glucosamine sulfate salt (plain glucosamine sulfate is hygroscopic and needs a stabilizing counter-ion -- historically NaCl in the "Rotta" preparation used in the positive European trials; 2KCl is a common commercial alternative). Evidence for sulfate broadly may reasonably extend here, but no dedicated head-to-head RCT of the 2KCl salt specifically was found -- equivalence is an assumption, not a demonstrated fact.
Source: uncertain -- needs review
Structurally and functionally distinct from glucosamine sulfate/HCl (an acetylated derivative used differently, e.g. in gut-health/IBD research) -- its joint-health evidence base is separate and much smaller and should NOT inherit the sulfate/HCl osteoarthritis evidence.
Source: uncertain -- needs review
Reference values
- RDA (adult): not established — Amino sugar, not an essential nutrient; no DRI exists.
- Tolerable Upper Intake Level (adult): not established — Not established. NCCIH: no major safety problems identified in large studies; cautions relate to shellfish allergy (theoretical), possible mild blood-glucose elevation, and a warfarin interaction, rather than a dose ceiling.
- Studied clinical dose range: 1500–1500 mg
- Clegg DO et al. 2006 (GAIT trial), NEJM 354(8):795-808 -- NIH-funded RCT (n>1,500), glucosamine HCl 1500mg/day (divided); no significant overall knee-pain reduction vs placebo, possible benefit in a moderate-to-severe-pain subgroup with glucosamine+ chondroitin combined. Contrast: Reginster JY et al. 2001, Lancet 357(9252):251-256, and Pavelka K et al. 2002, Arch Intern Med 162(18):2113-2123 -- both used glucosamine SULFATE 1500mg/day once-daily x3yr and found significant symptomatic AND structural (joint-space) benefit vs placebo.
- Note: 1500mg/day is essentially both the studied low and high end -- trials did not generally test other doses; this is a real feature of the evidence base, not a gap in this file. The sulfate-vs-HCl efficacy gap (see forms.yaml) is a genuine, debated clinical distinction, not just a bioavailability footnote.