mucopolysaccharide

mucopolysaccharide /mu·co·poly·sac·cha·ride/ (-sak´ah-rīd)

1. glycosaminoglycan.

2. any polysaccharide with high hexosamine content, including the glycosaminoglycans and also neutral polysaccharides such as chitin.

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mu·co·pol·y·sac·cha·ride (myk-pl-sk-rd)

n.

Any of a group of polysaccharides with high molecular weight that contain amino sugars and often form complexes with proteins. Also called galactosaminoglycan, glycosaminoglycan.

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Mucopolysaccharide

A complex molecule made of smaller sugar molecules strung together to form a chain. Found in mucous secretions and intercellular spaces.

Mentioned in: Mucopolysaccharidoses

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mucopolysaccharide

[myo̅o̅′kōpol′ēsak′ərīd]

Etymology: L, mucus + Gk, polys, many, sakcharon, sugar

a polysaccharide containing hexosamine and sometimes occurring with protein, such as mucins.

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mucopolysaccharide

a group of polysaccharides that contain hexosamine, which may or may not be combined with protein; when dispersed in water, mucopolysaccharides form many of the mucins.

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acid mucopolysaccharide

the amorphous, PAS-positive intercellular substance of most connective tissue. Formed by fibroblasts and osteoblasts.

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Patient discussion about mucopolysaccharide.

Q. Does GAG really help? My mother suffers from osteoarthritis, and after taking a lot of pain-killers someone offered us to try glycosaminoglycans. Does it really help? It’s quite expensive….

A. As far as I know it wasn’t proved in well-controlled trials to benefit the patients over placebo, so if it’s a consideration for you, I’m not sure it justifies the price. However, I’m only a lay-man, so consulting a professional (i.e. a doctor) is better.