High-dose D-glucosamine Consumption Increases Serum and Cecum Levels of Ammonia and Ethanol and Causes Bacterial Overgrowth in Rats

D-Glucosamine (GlcN) has been widely consumed as a dietary supplement because of its health benefits. However, limited information exists on the adverse effects of high-dose GlcN treatment. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary 4 % GlcN hydrochloride on serum and cecum parameters in rats. Growth and food intake were unaffected, but serum levels of ammonia and ethanol significantly increased by GlcN (+21 % and +12 %, respectively). No changes in serum parameters, including AST, ALT, LDH, gamma-GTP (indices of liver damage), and urea, were found. The GlcN intake significantly increased the weights of cecal contents (+115 %). Furthermore, supplemental GlcN significantly elevated the levels of ammonia and ethanol (+27 % and +93 %, respectively) and the number of total bacteria (+79 %), when expressed per gram of cecal contents. Our results suggest that high-dose GlcN causes adverse effects by increasing ammonia and ethanol levels and by bacterial overgrowth.