Glucosamine and cholesterol
In October 2004, the Danish Medicines Agency revealed that a study had shown how glucosamine and cholesterol seem to be linked to each other and that it is possible that glucosamine can elevate the cholesterol levels in humans. Further studies showed that glucosamine does not cause blood clots in the blood flow in patients using glucosamine supplements, and the Danish Medicines Agency did not recommend anyone to discontinue their glucosamine use.

The Danish Medicines Agency did however ask glucosamine manufacturers within the European Union to send them information regarding adverse reactions, so that the Danish Medicines Agency could carry out new research projects that would hopefully shed more light on glucosamin and cholesterol. The Danish Medicines Agency has now taken a closer look at the information that was sent to them, and they have also evaluated the studies that made authorisation of glucosamine as a medicinal product possible in Denmark. Before glucosamine was authorized as a medical product, clinical trials were carried out, and these trials noticed no indications of there being a link between glucosamine and cholesterol.

Glucosamine is marketed as a medical product in most EU countries and you can get a prescription for glucosamin from the primary health sector. Even though thousands of EU citizens are currently using glucosamine supplements, only a small number of reports (6 in total) deal with elevated cholesterol levels. According to these reports, the elevated cholesterol levels decreased when the patients stopped using glucosamine supplements. When the patients started to use glucosamine again, their cholesterol levels became elevated once more. It is therefore reasonable to assume that there is a valid link between glucosamine and cholesterol, but we still do not know if this link is true for everyone or if certain individuals are especially susceptible.

According to the Danish Medicines Agency, glucosamine is not believed to be capable of causing blood clots on its own, but if it can cause an elevated cholesterol level, than that elevated cholesterol level can in turn increase the risk of blood clots. It should also be noted that most people who use glucosamine do so because of their arthritis, and a vast majority of all arthritis patients are old. It is already known that old age in it self constitutes an elevated risk for diseases that affects the heart and blood flow. Danish data shows that in Denmark, patients who use glucosamin are often treated with anti-clotting and/or lipid reducing medication as well.

Until the link between glucosamine and cholesterol has been fully understood, it is a good idea to have your cholesterol level checked before you start using glucosamine. It is also advisable to have it checked regularly from that point and onward to detect any unusual changes. This way, adverse effects caused by glucosamin and cholesterol can be counter acted in time.