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Question:
I want to try glucosamine sulfate for my arthritis, but I am allergic to sulfur. Can I still take glucosamine sulfate?
Answer:
Yes. When people say to me that they are allergic to sulfur, what they really mean is that they are allergic to the so-called sulfa drugs or sulfite-containing food additives. It is impossible to be allergic to sulfur as sulfur is an essential mineral. In other words, your body requires sulfur as much as it requires oxygen, calcium, or any other essential molecule. The sulfate form of sulfur is present in relatively high concentrations in human blood. In short, glucosamine sulfate is extremely well-tolerated and no allergic reactions have been reported.
Because glucosamine sulfate has an excellent safety record in animal and human studies, many experts have recommended that glucosamine sulfate "be considered as a drug of choice for prolonged oral treatment of rheumatic disorders." In most double-blind studies the side effect rate with glucosamine sulfate was less than that of the placebo. Side effects, when they do appear, are generally limited to light to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms including stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, and indigestion. If these symptoms occur, try taking the glucosamine sulfate during a meal.
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