Have you found any particular brands of glucosamine or chondroitin to be better than others?

Have you found any particular brands of glucosamine or chondroitin to be better than others? Or do they all work pretty well?
Deb
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Gary Moller replies:
Deb, They are all very much the same. However; their value for money varies enormously, with the most expensive being the tablets, capsules and the liquids.

I tend to the Nutra-Life and Balance products mainly because they are a New Zealand company. I know the chemist there who formulates the products and often chat to him about his products and related matters. Of course, he wants me to promote the tablets; but I continue to frustrate him by favouring the powders! The less the processing the better, I say!

Glucosamine and Chondroitin products taste okay when fresh (glucosamine is sweetish). I prefer the pots of powder because you are not paying a premium for the tableting or the water, in the case of a liquid. Just mix it up in a glass of apple juice or your smoothie and down the hatch!

There are various formulations that take account of the age of the joints and sporting damage.

• Balance Joint Food for Athletes is for young joints being subjected to violence. Good for rugby players for example.
• Nutra-Life Joint Food is for joints that are being subject to chronic wear and tear and up to about the age of 50 years. Good for distance runners and cyclists.
• Nutra-Life Joint Factors is designed for older joints that are getting a bit arthritic. Good for old joints that hurt in the morning and tend to swell.

Now, what's the difference? Well not much really. Each has glucosamine and chondroitin but with differing amounts. Young joints do not need much chondroitin which hydrates cartilage. Older joints need more chondroitin to reverse drying out and less glucosamine. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is added to the Balance Joint Food and the Joint Factors because there may be some inflammation in both cases.

In all cases, the maximum dose should be followed for at least three months before backing off to a maintenance dose. This should be supported with an Active Elements mineral therapy programme and maybe a few other nutritional items according to need, such as cod liver oil.

Do you have a question?
Email Gary: gary at myotec.co.nz (Replace the "at" with @ and remove spaces). Please include any relevant background information to your question.