To : Virginia Re : Glucosamine and Chondroitin Virginia, I don't know that I can add more than what I have published in my new book as follows: "Glucosamine is an endogenous amino monosaccharide that has been reported effective in resolving symptoms of osteoarthritis. Administered in large doses, most is sequestered in the liver with only minimal amounts reaching other tissues, thus oral bioavailability is low. Most of the oral dose is metabolized in the liver and subsequently incorporated into other plasma proteins. No data are available on transfer into human milk. Because glucosamine is primarily sequestered and metabolized in the liver, and because the plasma levels are almost undetectable, it is unlikely that much would enter human milk. Further, the fact it is so poorly bioavailable, it is unlikely that an infant would receive clinically relevant amounts." "Chondroitin is a biological polymer that acts as a flexible connecting matrix between the protein filaments in cartilage. It is derived largely from natural sources such as shark or bovine cartilage and chemically is composed of a high-viscosity mucopolysaccharide (glycosaminoglycan) polymer found in most mammalian cartilaginous tissues. Thus far, chondroitin has been found to be nontoxic. Its molecular weight averages 50,000 daltons which is far too large to permit its entry into human milk. Combined with a poor oral bioavailability and large molecular weight, it is unlikely to pose a problem for a breastfed infant." While there is substantial data suggesting the these product may work in some arthritics, they do not work in all patients. But they are not very toxic and are probably worth a try. Regards to my Australian Friend Tom Hale, Ph.D.