If stomach upset occurs, glucosamine should be taken with meals. With regards to other products such as shark cartilage, clinical experience has shown that glucosamine sulfate is far superior. This is due to the increased absorption and utilization of glucosamine sulfate. The other sources of chrondroitin sulfates are composed of very large molecules and are difficult to digest. One of the reasons that glucosamine sulfate is more effective in rebuilding cartilage when compared to other sources of glucosamine, including the N-acetyl and hydrochloride forms, is that it provides bioavailable dietary sulfur.
Sulfur helps provide the protein links necessary for cartilage matrix repair.
This should not be understood as a negativity to the use of the other two forms, especially the HCl type, as they each have their benefits to the body in other ways. There is just more sulfur available with the use of the sulfate form. As with any oil, cetyl myristoleate requires lipase to be digested. Lipases are pancreatic enzymes that play a key role in the digestion of fats and fat soluble vitamins. If lipase is absent or deficient, cetyl myristoleate will be poorly absorbed, if at all.