Product Review: GLUCOSAMINE and CHONDROITIN

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Product Review: GLUCOSAMINE and CHONDROITIN

Background:

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements are used to slow the progression of osteoarthritis — the deterioration of cartilage between joint bones — and reduce associated pain. They are both naturally occurring molecules in the body. Glucosamine is thought to promote the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin is believed to promote water retention and elasticity in cartilage and inhibit enzymes that break down cartilage.

Glucosamine is sold in many forms, including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl), and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), and may also contain a potassium chloride or sodium chloride salt. However, there appears to be no conclusive evidence that one form is better than another. Chondroitin is typically sold as chondroitin sulfate.

Currently, glucosamine and chondroitin are not considered drugs in the U.S. and are not required to be tested for quality by any governmental or other agency prior to sale. As part of its mission to independently evaluate health, wellness, and nutrition products, ConsumerLab.com purchased and tested many of the leading glucosamine, chondroitin, and combined glucosamine and chondroitin dietary supplements sold in the U.S.

Testing & Results:

In December 1999 and January 2000 ConsumerLab.com purchased a total of 25 brands of glucosamine, chondroitin and combined glucosamine/chondroitin products (see How Products were Selected). These products were then tested to determine whether they possessed the labeled amounts of the claimed glucosamine and/or chondroitin ingredients. (See Testing Method and Passing Score).

Overall, nearly one-third of the products did not pass testing. Among glucosamine/chondroitin combination products, however, almost half (6 out of 13) did not pass — all due to low chondroitin levels. Similarly, the two chondroitin-only products tested did not pass. In contrast, all ten of the glucosamine-only products passed testing. One possible explanation for the low pass rate for chondroitin-containing products is economic — chondroitin costs manufacturers approximately four times as much as glucosamine.

Listed alphabetically below are the products that passed ConsumerLab.com's independent testing of glucosamine, chondroitin, and glucosamine/chondroitin dietary supplements.

CONSUMERLAB.COM APPROVED QUALITY GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN PRODUCTS


Product Name and Declared Concentration of Main Ingredient(s) Per Pill
Manufacturer or Distributor

Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate Combined Products:


CosaminDS Double Strength, 500 mg glucosamine HCl, 400 mg chondroitin per capsule
Nutramax Laboratories, Inc.

Glucosamine / Chondroitin Double Strength, 500 mg glucosamine HCl and 400 mg chondroitin per capsule
Walgreens

Maximum Strength Glucosamine/Chondroitin, 500 mg glucosamine HCl and 400 mg chondroitin per tablet
CVS

Nature's Bounty Chondroitin Complex with Glucosamine, 250 mg glucosamine HCl, 200 mg chondroitin per capsule
Nature's Bounty

Osteo-Bi-Flex Glucosamine / Chondroitin, 250 mg glucosamine HCl, 200 mg chondroitin tablets
Sundown

Pain Free, 500 mg Glucosamine (sulfate, HCL, and N-acetyl) 400 mg Chondroitin, Joint Support Formula caplets
Schiff

Spring Valley Glucosamine/Chondroitin Max. Strength, 500 mg glucosamine HCl, 400 mg chondroitin tablets
Wal-Mart / Manf. By Park-Taft Laboratories


Glucosamine-Only Products:


Enzymatic Therapy GS-500, Glucosamine Sulfate, 500mg/capsule*
Enzymatic Therapy

Fields of Nature Glucosamine Sulfate 500 mg, Natural Joint Nutrient capsules
Fields of Nature

GNC Glucosamine (sulfate), 600 mg/capsule
GNC

Natrol Glucosamine Complex (sulfate, HCl, and N-acetyl), 500 mg/capsule
Natrol

Nature Made Glucosamine (sulfate and HCl) 500 mg/tablet
Nature Made

Nutrilite Glucosamine HCl with Boswellia, 375 mg/caplet
Amway

One A Day Joint Health (with Glucosamine and Vitamins C & E), 500 mg glucosamine sulfate/tablet*
Bayer

OsteoJoint Triple Formula for Healthy Joints, 500 mg glucosamine sulfate/caplet
Your Life

Osteokinetics 467 mg glucosamine HCl /capsule
Shaklee (Formulas)

PhytoPharmica Glucosamine Sulfate, 500mg/capsule*
PhytoPharmica

Puritans' Pride Glucosamine Sulfate, 1000 mg/capsule
Puritans' Pride

Spring Valley Glucosamine Complex (sulfate and HCl), 500 mg/tablet
Wal-Mart / Manf. By Leiner Health Products


Chondroitin Sulfate-Only Products:


None Passed in Product Review


* Product tested at request of manufacturer through Ad Hoc Testing Program (see below for explanation).

Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2000. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC.



It can not be assumed that other products from a manufacturer or distributor listed above are of similar quality to those that passed testing. If a specific product is not listed, it either has not passed testing or was not tested. (Note to manufacturers: Testing of additional products may be requested through ConsumerLab.com's Ad Hoc Testing Program. Products that pass this testing will be added to the list above.) A complete listing of laboratory results for all products tested are available in a Technical Report that may be purchased.

What to Consider When Purchasing These Products:

Consumers should check product labels to make sure that they will provide a total of 1500 mg of glucosamine sulfate, hydrochloride, or other form in a day's serving (typically 500 mg three times per day) and/or 1200 mg of chondroitin sulfate in a day's serving (typically 400 mg three times per day). Since the amount of glucosamine or chondroitin per pill varies across products, the number of pills needed daily will vary and this should be considered when comparing the costs of products.

As seen, however, in this and other ConsumerLab.com Product Reviews, labels may not be accurate. To assist consumers, ConsumerLab.com is licensing its flask-shaped CL Seal of Approved Quality for Glucosamine, Chondroitin, or Glucosamine/Chondroitin (see The CL Seal) to manufacturers for use on labels of products that have passed testing. ConsumerLab.com will periodically re-evaluate these products to ensure their compliance with ConsumerLab.com's standards.

Noticeable improvements can take from several weeks to four months with these products. These products are not likely to be helpful in severe osteoarthritis ­ when bones already rub bones. A reduction in weight for overweight individuals and switching to low-impact rather than high-impact sports are also recommended for people with osteoarthritis. In a limited number of individuals, glucosamine can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, drowsiness, skin reactions, and headache. Chondroitin may occasionally cause stomach upset.

In general, consumers should check with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis before using dietary supplements and, due to potential drug interactions, should inform their healthcare providers of the dietary supplements they take.