Do You Have A Glucosamine Allergy?

Glucosamine is a natural supplement widely used for the treatment of arthritis.  Glucosamine is most often made from shellfish.  It can also be made from corn fermentation.  It is available in several forms including a sulfate salt.

Few people who take glucosamine have an allergy to it but people who are considering taking glucosamine may worry about allergies to other substances in glucosamine supplements.

Shellfish Allergy

Glucosamine is most commonly derived from the shells of crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp and lobster.  It is chemically extracted using a process known as hydrolysis.  Most people who are allergic to shellfish are actually allergic to the protein in shellfish.  Glucosamine is actually an amino sugar and not a protein.  High quality manufactures use refining processes that will eliminate proteins from the glucosamine amino sugar product.

Unfortunately those who have a shellfish allergy are often highly allergic and can develop anaphylaxis where the airways swell shut.  Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and the person will not be able to breathe.  Most manufacturers of glucosamine who use shellfish as a source of their product are confident that their supplements will not cause an allergic reaction.

Studies performed on persons with shellfish allergy have not shown any link to glucosamine and allergy but most health practitioners still recommend that a different product should be chosen such as one made from corn.

Corn Allergy

Glucosamine can be made from the fermentation of corn.  Corn is fermented and distilled into alcohol and then chemically converted to glucosamine.  People who are allergic to corn are generally allergic to the gluten contained in corn.  Corn gluten allergy most often results in digestive issues and not an actually allergic condition.

Corn derived glucosamine is considered to be completely free of corn products. There have been no reports or cases of glucosamine causing a reaction in persons with corn allergy.  However, people who do have a corn allergy may wish to choose one of the more popular shellfish derived products as most glucosamine supplements are made from shellfish.

Sulfa Allergy

Glucosamine is sometimes sold as glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine sulphate.  Some people with “sulfa” allergies may be concerned that they might be allergic to the “sulfate” portion of glucosamine.  In actuality, though some believe they have an allergy to “sulphur” or “sulfite”, sulphur is a naturally occurring element found throughout the body and sulfite is a commonly occurring salt form of sulphur.

No one has ever been shown to actually be allergic to sulphur.  People with sulfa allergies are allergic to “sulfa drugs” such as antibiotics like sulfamethoxazole and sulfasalazine and sulfonylurea antidiabetic drugs such as glyburide.  The sulfate portion of glucosamine sulfate is simply a salt carrier molecule which will dissolve in the stomach.  People with sulfa allergies are not allergic to glucosamine sulfate.