Glucosamine and Pregnancy

According to one small study, glucosamine appears to be safe for pregnant women. However, this study may have been too small to discover potential problems. Until more information is available, it may be wise to avoid taking this supplement while pregnant. If you are using glucosamine and pregnancy occurs, talk to your healthcare provider about any potential risks.

Glucosamine Supplement Information

Glucosamine and Pregnancy: An Introduction

Glucosamine is a dietary supplement commonly used for the treatment of arthritis. It is not clear if this product is safe for use during pregnancy.

Is Glucosamine Safe for Pregnant Women?

Even though glucosamine is a dietary product available without a prescription, this does not automatically imply that it is safe for use during pregnancy. It should never be assumed that a supplement is safe for pregnant women just because it is a "natural" product.

However, there is one small study that suggests glucosamine may be safe for use during pregnancy. Women who took the supplement did not have a higher risk of problems, compared to women who did not take it. However, this study was quite small, perhaps too small to discover potential problems.

Because it is not known for sure if glucosamine is safe during pregnancy, it might be wise for a pregnant woman to avoid this supplement until more information is available.

If you are pregnant, it is always a good idea to ask your healthcare provider before taking any medication or supplement. If a natural medicine practitioner recommends that you use glucosamine during pregnancy, it would be wise to check with another healthcare provider, just to be safe (and to get a second opinion).