Glucosamine

Question: Glucosamine tablets made for humans, is it okay to feed them to dogs? Dogs have their own glucosamine supplements, but aren't they nearly the same thing as the glucosamine supplements made for humans? I want to feed my dog glucosamine, because I've seen some good results from it. If I buy glucosamine at petco, it's $26. It's $18 at Costco (the one for humans). Is there really a difference between glucosamine tablets for humans, and the ones for dogs?

Answer: I feed my dog vegetarian glucosamine tabs, rather then the "regular" glucosamine which is from shellfish. Why?..because I also take glucosamine and I am a herbivore! My dog got really itchy when I had fed her glucosamine dog treats they had the shellfish in it. Her coat is beautiful and she seems less stiff (I know my knee is feeling less stiff) from the vegetarian glucosamine tabs. She usually get 750mgs/daily..seems to be working! My friend who is a DVM, gives both her dogs human glucosamine tabs about 1000mg/daily (I take care of her dogs when she leaves town). You would be surprised at the amount of drugs DVM prescribe that are human quality. Again, its best to ask the advise of your dogs veterinarian, my dog doesn't need daily pain meds for any joint pain problems and has been ok'd to take vegetarian glucosamine (derived from corn) so if your dog is allergic to corn then vegetarian glucosamine isn't for her. Its best to do some research on glucosamine, there is tons of stuff to know. Like for a fact glucosamine in dog food is a joke (like large breed dog foods) you would have to feed like 20-30cups of food a day to have any effect on your dog, its better to get the tabs. Sometimes traditional DVMs don't have enough knowledge on natural ways to heal the dog body and having a holistic DVMs second opinion can make a huge difference on the way health problems are handled. Holistic medicine often benefits the over all well being of animals, and is something to consider. I am sure most larger city's have a holistic veterinarian (yes they have their DVM licenses).

Question: What other additional ingredients besides glucosamine are safe for dogs? I've been scouring for a good and safe glucosamine supplement for my dog and i keep seeing ingredients like boron, manganese etc. I can't seem to find one with only glucosamine. I already know condrotin is safe right? What other ingredients are safe for ingestion and beneficial too?

Answer: Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, DMG, Perna mussels, Glycosaminoglycans, Hyaluronan, Selenium, Omega 3s, Omega 6s, MSM, Grape Seed extract, Manganese. There are probably a few others. That's off the top of my head. There are some Glucosamine-only supplements out there, but they are difficult to find because most dogs do better with a combination of arthritis aiding/preventative ingredients and most owners are looking for combination supplements. I use Glyco-Flex III with my dog and have been very pleased with it. Our vet recommended 1000mgs of glucosamine and 1000mgs of MSM per day, so that's how I ended up with the product I chose--none of the others had the full dose in one pill. There are many of these supplements out there, though. Ask your vet what dosage to aim for in your dog and then you'll at least have a starting point.

Question: What is the difference between glucosamine sulfate and n-acetyl glucosamine? A recent study used n-acetyl glucosamine for treatment of autoimmune diseases like MS, type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease and the result is that it seemed to help stop the immune system's faulty attack on healthy tissue. Can someone tell me what the real difference is between the regular glucosamine sold for joint health (sulfate) and this n-acetyl glucosamine? Could glucosamine sulfate have the same type of cellular effect as N-A-G, maybe if taken in larger doses, or is it just too different? I have several autoimmune diseases and want to try it, but N-A-G is next to impossible to get in Germany for less than a ridiculous fortune and US vitamin stores seemingly won't ship to Germany (iHerb, Mother Nature, Amazon retailers, Vitamin Shoppe, etc, etc.). However, I can get glucosamine sulfate here without a problem.

Answer: Glucosamine sulfate vs. NAG Currently companies marketing N-acetyl-glucosamine, commonly referred to as "NAG," are misleading many physicians into believing that NAG is better absorbed, more stable, and is better utilized than glucosamine sulfate. These contentions are without support in the scientific literature. In fact, the literature contains just the opposite. Glucosamine sulfate is clearly the preferred form. As mentioned above, detailed human studies on the absorption, distribution, and elimination of orally administered glucosamine sulfate have shown an absorption rate of as high as 98% and that once absorbed it is then distributed primarily to joint tissues where it is incorporated into the connective tissue matrix of cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, In addition, there are the impressive clinical studies on thousands of patients. In contrast, there has never been a double-blind study using NAG for any application. Nor have there ever been any detailed absorption studies on NAG in humans. Further evidence of the superiority of glucosamine sulfate to NAG is offered by studies in laboratory animals. Over the years, numerous researchers have researchers have repeatedly demonstrated that glucosamine is superior to NAG in terms of absorption and utilization by at least a factor of 2:1.18-29 These researchers have concluded that glucosamine is a more efficient precursor of macromolecular hexosamine [glycosaminoglycans] than N-acetyl-glucosamine does not penetrate the cell membranes and, as a result, is not available for incorporation into glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides.20 The absorption of NAG is quickly digested by intestinal bacteria; 2) NAG is a known binder of dietary lectins in the gut with the resultant lectin-NAG complex being excreted in the feces; and 3) a large percentage of NAG is broken down by intestinal cells. NAG differs from glucosamine sulfate in that instead of a sulfur molecule, NAG has a portion of an acetic acid molecule attached to it. Glucosamine sulfate and NAG ware entirely different molecules and appear to be handled by the body differently. The body preferentially utilizes glucosamine sulfate compared to NAG. This preference is exhibited by the fact that the absorption of glucosamine sulfate is an active process.29 In other words, there are mechanisms in the body which are designed specifically for the absorption and utilization of glucosamine sulfate. No such mechanisms exist for NAG. It is highly unlikely that NAG possesses the same kind of antiarthritic and antireactive properties that glucosamine sulfate has been shown to possess.30-31 In addition to the question of absorption, several studies have shown that the articular tissue is not able to utilize NAG as well as it does glucosamine.18-19 The marketing information on NAG will often use the term slow acetylators to describe a very small group of individuals with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis who are unable to convert glucosamine to NAG as fast as individuals without these diseases. Glucosamine and NAG are necessary in the manufacture of mucin, the glycoprotein lining of the intestinal tract. Distributors of NAG hold up only one study as evidence that NAG is better. The study demonstrated that when intestinal cells from patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis were bathed in a solution containing a ratio of radioactive NAG:glucosamine of 10:1, the cells incorporated more NAG than the cells from individuals without these diseases.30 These results are expected due to the higher concentrations of NAG in the media artificially promoting passive diffusion to a greater extent than the active accumulation of glucosamine. How distributors of NAG can then use this information to claim that NAG is better than glucosamine sulfate is puzzling since the significance of this test tube study is unclear and other studies have demonstrated an increased utilization of glucosamine in these patients.33 The problem of acetylation of glucosamine is not a factor for most people as it is not a rate-limiting step in the manufacture of glycosaminoglycans, instead it is the manufacture of glucosamine. Another form of glucosamine presently being marketed is glucosamine hydrochloride (HCI). As with NAG, the research simply does not support the use of glucosamine HCI. It appears the sulfur component of glucosamine sulfate may be critical to the beneficial effects noted. Sulfur is an essential nutrient for joint tissue where it functions in the stabilization of the connective tissue matrix of cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. As far back as the 1930's, researchers demonstrated that individuals with arthritis are commonly deficient in this essential nutrient.34 Restoring sulfur levels brought about significant benefit to these patients.35 Therefore, it appears the sulfur portion of glucosamine sulfate is extremely important and is another reason why glucosamine sulfate is the preferred form of glucosamine. Dosage Information The standard dose for glucosamine sulfate is 500 mg three times per day. Obese individuals may need higher dosages based on their body weight (20 mg/kg body weight/day). Glucosamine sulfate is extremely well-tolerated. In addition, there are no contra-indications or adverse interactions with drugs. Individuals taking diuretics may need to take higher dosages. Glucosamine sulfate may cause some gastrointestinal upset (nausea, heartburn, etc.) in rare instances. If this occurs, have the patient try taking it with meals.

Question: What is the difference between Glucosamine Sulfate and Glucosamine Hydrochloride? What is the difference between Glucosamine Sulfate and Glucosamine Hydrochloride? And does '[BIOCHEM] Liga-Tend' really work for ligaments and tendons recovery?

Answer: Both are great forms of glucosamine, however the studies that have been conducted on glucosamine show that glucosamine hydrochloride is absorbed by the body faster. Both are salts Economics and purity play a big part of peoples preference.As far as ligatend it is reported to help with the recovery of ligaments and tendons I have never tried it but I have friends who swear by it

Question: What are good brands of glucosamine supplements? I'm starting my older beagle on glucosamine supplements soon; she'll be 10 soon, and I figure no harm starting my 7 year old girl on them too. There are quite a few brands to pick from, so I was wondering if anyone has any good recommendations. The pet stores I have visited carry Actipet, Nupro Joint Support and NaturVet. Any comments on these brands? I'll be in Melbourne in December, so maybe I'll pick some Sasha's Blend up. Thanks!

Answer: I'm not familiar with those products, so can't give you any comments on them, but if you can get it I would highly recommend Sasha's Blend. I have seen a lot of dogs put on it (including my own animals), and they do very, very well. It's an Australian product, and is stocked by most vets here. I'm not sure how readily available it is from pet shops if you're overseas, but it can be bought online. ADD: in response to your update- I'm pretty sure that it can ONLY be bought from a vet clinic, but it's an over the counter product. Definitely worth picking some up if you're going to be out here- I swear by it!

Question: What are the risks of glucosamine causing diabetes, especially with the long term use 4 arthritis? I have just been warned off this product by my Dr due to the concerns of causing diabetes. He has suggested shark cartlidge and high dosage of fish oil instead...... Well, ... I'm confused. Does anyone know more about a possible link between taking glucosamine etc for arthuritis and an increase in the aging population of diabetics ? Is there a connection ?

Answer: I could not find any relationship between the two.

Question: What are the best brands for Glucosamine Sulphate? I have seen products with Glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate. But I did not find Glucosamine Sulphate. Various brands contain a variety of other ingradients like Uniflex, Hyaluronic acid in different concentrations (which is very confusing). And i also read that, rather than a pill form , liquid form is more useful. Is this true? Please help, because they are very expensive. If anyone knows what is the dose we need for glucosamine and chondroitin. Thanks in advance.

Answer: Glucosamine is available in so many brands that it is difficult to assess them all. One of the primary problems with this specific product is what is called "Bio-vailability" -- this is the actual amount of the chemical to reach your blood stream and be effective. There is only one product with an objective and scientific review of its effectiveness, and that us one called 'Dona'. I know arthritic patients who tried other Glucosamines with poor results, but when they switched to Dona, they gained substantial improvements.

Question: Does glucosamine or chondroitin work to help joint pain? I just read on Wikipedia that the effects are debated as to whether glucosamine and/or chondroitin will help cartilage formation. Does anyone have any personal experience with these? Does anyone know any more solid facts than the couple of sentences on Wikipedia? Thanks!

Answer: Personally I don't know, but my dad used to take glucosamine for his joint pain when he was in training for a marathon, and it worked for him. Hope this helped.

Question: How many calories are there in Glucosamine and Chondroitin tablets? As glucosamine is based on sugar, surely it is quite a lot? One of my best friends has started taking them and she is putting on weight. Liliam - they don;t list the calories on the box She is taking them for her joint pain but has seen weight gain since she has started them 2 months ago

Answer: LOOK ON THE BOX! READ THE LABEL

Question: How much glucosamine should I give my dog? My 9 year old dog has arthritis. I'm going to start giving her glucosamine to help. She's about 104 pounds and the glucosamine I have is Glucosamine HCl, 1500 mg per tablet. My vet said one per day would be fine, but I also read that doubling the dose for the first 1-2 weeks helps. So would it be okay to give her 2 tablets per day instead of 1? Or would that hurt her?

Answer: I think I would go with the Vet's instructions and just give her 1 tablet per day. 1500 mg. is quite a high dose and if you double it up you could be causing more harm than good. My older Retrievers have 2 x 400 mg. Glucosamine with Chondroitin tablets per day.

Question: Can taking Glucosamine daily affect the results of a blood glucose tolerance test? When going for a glucose tolerance test, should I avoid taking Glucosamine before the test? If so, how long beforehand?

Answer: i have friend, diabetic, severe arthritise. he took that i saw no imporvement, not saying you wont. it is expensive and i perseve to be a waste but any drug can be detected in any test, even asprin.. good luck

Question: What is the best glucosamine supplement for cats? My cat turned 16 this year and is having trouble getting up and laying down. It takes her a few minutes to do either. Has anyone had success with glucosamine supplements and if so, what brand would you recommend? She takes small pills very easily (she takes 2x daily medication) but will not take medicine in the form of treats (like heartworm pills.)

Answer: You do not need to buy one made for cats as it is the same ingredient no matter who it is marketed for. Do not go by prices alone. Some brands are better than others, that is, they actually contain what it says on the label. Some good reliable brands are BioChem (Country Life ), Solgar, and Jarrow. It is often least expensive to buy them mail order, even with the shipping charges, from companies like vitacost. The best form to buy it in is capsules. That way you can divide up the doses easily. Glucosamine can be sprinked on food and it is tasteless. The product I am most familiar with is BioChem Glucosamine Chondroitin Formula. Worked well for both a family cat, friend's cat and a family dog. Understand that this does not work overnight. You should give it at least 6 weeks to see improvement though it may work faster than that. For the first month or so give double the standard cat dose twice a day. After that, once a day. I can't remember what the cat dose is! I know we started the 50 lb.dog with 2 capsules a day, then reduced it to one. Each capsule contains 500mg glucosamine. It does work very well. It was especially noticeable with my sister's elderly dog. She could no longer go up or down stairs, limped, couldn't walk far without sitting down and refusing to move. About 3 weeks after starting the glucosamine she walked up the stairs! After about 6 weeks she was moving with ease. Dramatic improvement. If I remember the cat dose I'll update. Update: For an average-sized cat the maintainance dose is 125mg/day. So 1/2 one of the above capsules daily (250mg ) to start.

Question: What dosage of glucosamine & chondroitin would you give to a 13kg Cavalier? I give my Cavalier glucosamine capsules, but someone said to me that glucosamine & chondroitin works wonders for a dog with bad joints (they also had a Cavalier). What rough dosage & strength would you recommend of these capsules for a 13kg Cavalier?

Answer: Personally I'd calla nd ask the vet how much should be given..If you buy some that is designed for dogs then teh bottle itself will tell you how much. Here is an article with more information about Glucosamine and chondroitin. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=542

Question: Is it safe to give glucosamine that is designed for humans to dogs? They have glucosamine specifically for dogs, and I was wondering if there was any difference between the two.

Answer: it is ok. i had to give it to my dane. i used pure instead of mixed products. i use nutro lamb and rice food now. it has glucosamine and chonjointants(sp) in the dogs food. it has done great for me.

Question: Has anyone ever used human glucosamine for a horse? One of my horses is stiff and sore after a busy show season. I priced out horse joint formulas of all different brands, a month's supply costs $40-$60. The main active ingredient is glucosamine, which is scientifically proven to help SOME people and animals with arthritis. I read labels carefully. The horse formulas recommend you start with 5000 ml glucosamine for the first 3 weeks and then taper down to about 2500 mls daily. They say you'll need up to 2 months to see any improvement. I then priced out human glucosamine at Wal-Mart. I ended up buying a month's supply in capsules for $13. I could open the capsules and sprinkle 5000 mls(10 capsules in total) in my horse's grain daily, maybe adding oil first to help it stick. Has anyone tried this? Any tips or problems? Any reason it shouldn't work? The active ingredient should be safe and good quality. I could ask my pharmacist if the capsules are safe if opened and eaten whole, too.(I'm a nurse) Any other ideas?

Answer: Shhh don't tell the sellers of horse supplements I told you this but according to a wonderful trainer I once had, horse supplements are often (not always but often) lower grade than the human version. To my knowledge there is nothing wrong with giving the human version provided it is the same ingredient at the correct dosage and there aren't any fillers/extra ingredients that would cause a problem. I give my horse powdered garlic from the wholesaler store rather than the expensive tubs at the feed store. I also used to give him human biotin/B complex supplement with no complications. It was cheaper and higher quality.I broke the tablet in half and put it in his grain, he ate it no worries. (Powder might require some oil or flavouring if it is unpalatable, that's an idea I'll need to remember, thanks! :) ) Same deal with naproxen, yay for Costco. :) I give my dog who has a deformed hip joint; human glucosamine (have for the past 5 years) in a tablet form and he is fine, no pain/movement issues. I have also taken it myself and seen benefits. I have not tried it on my horse as he thankfully doesn't need it. I say go for it, just do your research and know doses, etc. Good luck! And welcome to the world of avoiding overpriced animal supplements. ;) EDIT: Fairly Erika made a good point about cheap human supplements. While higher grade than animal supplements, there may be variability in quality. I am leery of purchasing anything that is consumable or has a direct impact on safety from Wally World. I don't trust Made in China as far as I can throw it. So don't buy made in China supplements. :)

Question: Does glucosamine really help arthiritis or am I wasting my money? I have Halux limitus. Basically big toe joint arthiritis. My mum has bad arthiritis and was wondering if glucosamine could help at all, or is it a con?

Answer: Glucosamine really works. It may take a week or two to start working. How well it works probably depends on the extent and severity of your arthritis. It worked wonders for me. I've taken it on and off for over 10 years. I have bad arthritis from a knee injury.