The effect of glucosamine on Serum HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI levels in people with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Dietary and nutritional supplements are modulators of HDL cholesterol levels and production of apolipoprotein (apo) AI. Previously, in vitro treatment of hepatocyte cell lines with glucosamine increased apoAI production by stabilization of apoAI mRNA. The hypothesis is that the neutraceutical glucosamine, when given in conventional doses (1,500 mg/day) may increase apoAI and HDL cholesterol levels in subjects with diabetes and low HDL cholesterol. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twelve subjects (three men and nine women) with type 1 (n = 2) and type 2 (n = 10) diabetes, aged 55 +/- 12 years (mean +/- SD), who had low HDL cholesterol (1.03 +/- 0.20 mmol/l), were randomly assigned to a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of 500 mg glucosamine or placebo orally three times daily for 2 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout phase and a 2-week cross-over to the alternate therapy. RESULTS Fasting serum glucose, fructosamine, and total cholesterol remained stable during the drug and placebo phases. Glucosamine had no significant effect after therapy on serum levels of HDL cholesterol (from baseline of 1.02 +/- 0.15 to 1.05 +/- 0.16 mmol/l compared with placebo from 1.04 +/- 0.21 to 1.06 +/- 0.16 mmol/l) nor in changes in apoAI levels (from baseline of 147 +/- 15 to 140 +/- 126 mg/dl with glucosamine and from 146 +/- 25 to 142 +/- 17 mg/dl with placebo). CONCLUSIONS These observations suggest that glucosamine at commonly consumed doses does not have significant effects on glycemic control, lipid profile, or levels of apoAI in diabetic subjects after 2 weeks of supplementation.