Nature’s Health Shoppe Glucosamine Chondroitin Plus 120 caps

Description

PROPERTIES:
Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic (reduces pain)
INDICATIONS:
Glucosamine Chondroitin Plus caps provide important nutritional support for healthy
joints and connective tissue. Both compounds are major structural components found
naturally in the body that promote optimal joint and connective tissue health. This
unique formula combines glucosamine and chondroitin with MSM and devil’s claw
to provide fast and effective pain relief, while simultaneously nourishing cartilage,
ligaments, and tendons, and enhancing joint lubrication flexibility, and mobility. It can
be used to provide relief for conditions such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, and physical
overuse or as a preventative to help maintain healthy joints and connective tissues.
Glucosamine is an amino sugar, consisting of an amino acid (glutamine) and a
simple sugar (glucose), that the body uses as the structural basis for connective
tissue and lubricating fluids. Amino sugars are the building blocks for molecules
called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are large molecules that form the glue-like
matrix that holds the body together. While the body uses approximately 20 different
amino sugars, the GAG’s produced by glucosamine specifically are used to make
cartilage, ligaments tendons, and bones. Because connective tissue is constantly
being broken down by normal everyday use, the body requires a continuous supply of
glucosamine to replace or restructure the broken down tissue. Severe stress, major
injuries, and aging can all reduce GAG synthesis from glucosamine. In addition,
certain diseases such as osteoarthritis are associated with low GAG production.
In osteoarthritis, cartilage begins to thin and breakdown causing stiffness, friction,
and joint pain. Research indicates that supplementation with glucosamine sulfate
may help the body make more GAG’s, increasing the amount of cartilage and fuid
around the joints, helping to prevent further breakdown. A clinical trial comparing
the use of glucosamine sulfate and ibuprofen for pain relief in patients with TMJ
osteoarthritis, reported that glucosamine provided greater relief from the pain caused
by function during daily activities.
Chondroitin, found naturally in the body, is a major component of cartilage where it
helps absorb fuid into the connective tissue, provides the building blocks for cartilage production, and may also help prevent cartilage break down. In osteoarthritis
research, Chondroitin has been shown to reduce joint pain, swelling, and stiffness
and improve joint function. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating
the symptomatic effects of chondroitin in patients with osteoarthritis of the hand
reported patients treated with chondroitin sulfate showed a significant increase in
hand function and decrease in pain and morning stiffness compared to placebo.
Studies evaluating the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin combination therapy
show mixed results. However, one of the largest studies, the 2008 Glucosamine/
Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), reported that glucosamine combined
with chondroitin provided statistically significant pain relief compared to placebo in
patients experiencing moderate to severe pain.
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MSM (Methylsulphonylmethane), a metabolite of DMSO, is a naturally occurring
sulfur compound found in humans that is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and protects
cells against oxidative damage. It helps reduce joint pain, improve joint movement,
and prevent muscle damage. A clinical trial evaluating the effects of MSM on patients
with osteoarthritis reported that MSM supplementation reduced pain and improved
physical function compared to placebo. Another study comparing the efficacy of
glucosamine, MSM, and their combination on pain relief in knee osteoarthritis found
that combination therapy reduced swelling and provided greater pain relief and
improved joint function than individual therapy.
Devil’s Claw, a tuber from Africa contains harpagosides, glycosides that reduce
inflammation in the joints. It is used to alleviate arthritic and overuse symptoms, and
is effective for both chronic and acute joint pain. It acts as an analgesic in joints and
seems to calm down inflammatory conditions in the connective tissue. It can also
help reduce chronic muscle pain, such as is found in fibromyalgia.