Vegan Glucosamine Vs. Crustacean Glucosamine

Glucosamine is one of the most popular supplements for joint health. But with most glucosamine sourced from crustacean shells what does this mean for the marine environment and for people who need to avoid shellfish? Are plant-based alternatives just as effective? It’s time to put vegan glucosamine Vs crustacean glucosamine to the test...

What is crustacean glucosamine?

Shellfish-based glucosamine is derived from chitin, a tough substance found in the outer shells of crustaceans like lobster, crayfish, crab, prawn, and shrimp. 

The shells go through a chemical extraction process using acid and alkaline chemicals to split the chitin into glucosamine. This leaves behind large amounts of toxic landfill waste and polluted water.

What is vegan glucosamine?

Vegan glucosamine is the plant-based alternative to crustacean glucosamine.

There are a couple of options available. Some manufacturers use glucosamine derived from Aspergillus niger, a type of fungi that’s rich in chitin, the same material found in shellfish. However the production process still creates landfill waste and only uses slightly less water than for crustacean glucosamine.

At Ethical Nutrition we choose to use GlucosaGreen®, a vegan glucosamine made from glucose. The glucose is extracted from non-GMO corn and fermented to produce glucosamine. 

The whole process is effective, clean and sustainable. It uses a whopping 99.9% less water than crustacean glucosamine production and produces 98% less landfill waste.

Vegan vs crustacean glucosamine: the key differences

Is Vegan Glucosamine effective?

While glucosamine has been well researched, studies frequently have mixed results because of different dosages and limitations with sample sizes.

However, a review of 15 randomized controlled trials [1] using 1500mg per day of glucosamine in participants with osteoarthritis concluded that it:

• Significantly reduces pain scores compared to a placebo.

• Improves knee stiffness and function.

• Is safe and well tolerated with no serious side effects.

The studies in this review used different types of glucosamine and it’s not stated how many were vegan, however GlucosaGreen® has been shown to be as effective as shellfish-based glucosamine [2].

The benefits and side effects of vegan glucosamine

Your body uses glucosamine to make glycosaminoglycans which are found in cartilage and ligaments and the synovial fluid that lubricates joints. 

Glucosamine promotes healthy cartilage function and is thought to ease joint inflammation by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome [3] - part of the immune system that activates joint inflammation in response to injury or wear-and-tear damage. 

It’s generally taken to help with:

• Osteoarthritis (aka “wear-and-tear” arthritis).

• Sports injuries.

• Stiff joints.

In addition to these health benefits, GlucosaGreen® vegan glucosamine is kinder to the environment and has a 70% lower carbon footprint compared to shellfish glucosamine. 

Side effects of glucosamine

When taken as directed vegan glucosamine is well tolerated. It has a much lower risk of causing side effects compared to shellfish glucosamine because there is no risk of shellfish sensitivity or allergy. 

Some people may experience mild and temporary nausea, headache, bloating, or changes in bowel movements.

Should you choose vegan or crustacean glucosamine?

Ultimately, the decision is yours. But if you want an effective glucosamine that doesn’t come with a large environmental price tag, the GlucosaGreen® in our Vegan Glucosamine is the one to choose.

FAQs

Is glucosamine vegan?

No, only some glucosamine is vegan. Most products on the market today use glucosamine extracted from crustacean shells.

What is vegan glucosamine made from?

Vegan glucosamine can be made from Aspergillus niger, a type of fungi rich in chitin (the same substance found in crustacean shells) or fermented glucose extracted from non-GMO corn. 

Our Vegan Glucosamine contains GlucosaGreen®, a vegan glucosamine made from fermented glucose.

Is vegan glucosamine effective for joint health?

Yes, vegan glucosamine has been shown to be as effective as crustacean glucosamine for joint health [2]. 

Are there any side effects of vegan glucosamine?

The risk of side effects with vegan glucosamine is much lower than with shellfish-based products, but some people may experience mild temporary bloating, nausea, headache, or changes in bowel movements.

What’s the difference between vegan glucosamine and crustacean glucosamine?

The key difference between vegan and crustacean glucosamine is where it’s sourced from and what that process involves. Shellfish-based glucosamine comes from chitin found in the outer shells of lobster, crab, crayfish, prawn, and shrimp. Extracting the glucosamine is a chemically intensive process that creates a lot of landfill waste and polluted waste water.

The vegan glucosamine in our Vegan Glucosamine supplement is made from fermented glucose derived from non-GMO corn. This process uses 99.9% less water compared to shellfish glucosamine production, and produces 98% less landfill waste.

Glucosamine is one of the most popular products for supporting joint health and mobility. When comparing vegan vs. crustacean glucosamine, both score points for joint health but there’s only one winner when it comes to environmental sustainability and that’s vegan glucosamine.

Find out more about our Vegan Glucosamine and stock up on joint health products in our online store today.

You may also like to read:

What’s the deal with Vegan Glucosamine? 

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The Evidence

1. Vo, N. X., Le, N. N., Chu, T. D., Pham, H. L., Dinh, K. X., Che, U. T., Ngo, T. T., & Bui, T. T. 2023. Effectiveness and Safety of Glucosamine in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. Pharmacy, 11(4), 117. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy11040117 

2. GlucosaGreen®, 2025. What is GlucosaGreen®? Available at https://glucosagreen.com/what-is-glucosagreen/ [Accessed 16 Sept 2025].

3. Chiu, H., Li, L., Hsieh, C., Rao, Y. K., Chen, F., Chen, A., Ka, S., & Hua, K. 2019. Glucosamine inhibits IL-1β expression by preserving mitochondrial integrity and disrupting assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42130-z