Is it all right for me to take glucosamine sulfate with my other medication, specifically anti-inflammatories?
Researchers have found no contraindications for glucosamine sulfate. Can persons allergic to sulfa drugs take glucosamine sulfate? Yes. “Sulfa” short for sulfonamide refers to an old-fashioned antibiotic and has no connection whatsoever with the organic compound glucosamine sulfate. “It is impossible to be allergic to sulfur because sulfur is an essential mineral. The sulfate form of sulfur is present in relatively high concentrations in human blood.” (Michael T. Murray, The Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Prima Publishing. 1996.) What is the difference between nacetyl glucosamine (NAG) and glucosamine sulfate? A bit of chemistry here: glucosamine sulfate is produced by combining glucose with glutamine to form glucosamine through the action of the enzyme glucosamine synthetase. NAG is also produced this way. However, there is one more step: it is then acetylated to form n-acetyl glycosamine or NAG. Over 20 double-blind studies have been conducted on glucosamine sulfate. NAG ha
