Glucosamine and high blood pressure
Glucosamine supplements normally contain one of two types of glucosamine: glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. Both types are considered safe for healthy persons, but glucosamine sulfate can be a bad idea if you suffer from high blood pressure or have to stick to a strict low-sodium diet in order to prevent high blood pressure. The reason behind this is that sodium is used to stabilize glucosamine sulfate, and a diet high in sodium has been linked to an increased risk of developing, or worsening, high blood pressure.

All of us need to watch our daily sodium intake, but for individuals with other risk factors the task of keeping a low-sodium diet is of even greater importance. Examples of common risk factors are excess weight, lack of exercise, stress, tobacco, being older than 55, being black, and having a family history of high blood pressure. There are also many medical conditions that can make it important for you and your doctor to discuss the problem with glucosamin and high blood pressure, e.g. Cushing's disease, polycystic kidney disease and coarctation of the aorta. Discussing glucosamin and high blood pressure with your doctor is also imperative if you use antidepressants, oral contraceptives and/or cold medicines. Illicit drugs known to increase blood pressure e.g. cocaine and amphetamine, should naturally always be avoided. If your life contains any of the risk factors mentioned above, or if you already have developed a high blood pressure, getting the facts about glucosamine and high blood pressure is extra important.

Before you purchase glucosamine supplements, check the label to make sure that you get a low-sodium kind of glucosamine. Some manufacturers sell glucosamine sulfate supplements where up to 30% of each pill consists of sodium. If you want to stay away from high sodium levels, glucosamine hydrochloride is a better choice than glucosamine sulfate because glucosamine hydrochloride does not have to be stabilized with sodium. If you want to continue taking glucosamine sulfate, you can cut back on other types of salty food to balance the increased sodium intake. Ordinary table salt is one of largest contributors of sodium in our diet, since it is often added in the kitchen as well as at the table. It is also common for manufacturers of canned, frozen and ready-made food to add vast amounts of sodium to their products.