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Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM


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Doctor's Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM contains pure Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM, as confirmed by HPLC testing. Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM consists of glucosamine, an amino sugar extracted from "chitin," a component of shellfish skeletons. ("Chitin," the resilient polysaccharide that forms the structural framework of animal shells, is a long-chain polymer consisting of many glucosamine molecules linked together.) The purified glucosamine is then sulfated and stabilized with potassium chloride.

Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM is derived from the shells of ocean-growing shellfish. It is processed to remove all residues of protein and impurities, yielding pure Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM as the final material.

Glucosamine/Chondrotin/MSM contains chondroitin sulfate with a purity of 90 percent or greater. Quality assurance testing is performed using two sophisticated laboratory analysis methods: 1) HPLC and 2) C.P.C. Titration, a newly developed method now accepted as the most definitive test for chondroitin sulfate.

Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM features OptiMSM methylsulfonylmethane, MSM distilled to be 99.9% pure. A biological compound that occurs in the human body and in some foods, MSM is an excellent dietary source of bioavailable organic sulfur.

The MSM Story-One of Nature's Primary Sources of Organic Dietary Sulfur!

The human body requires a continuous supply of usable sulfur, and MSM is one of the primary organic sulfur-containing molecules for use by living organisms. From life's earliest beginnings, primitive marine organisms (blue-green algae and phytoplankton) have absorbed inorganic sulfur from ocean waters and produced organic sulfur molecules, primarily dimethyl sulfonium salts. These salts are released back into the sea, where they are converted to dimethyl sulfide, which readily evaporates, ending up in the upper atmosphere. Dimethyl sulfide is then oxidized by UV light, forming DMSO and MSM. The two compounds are delivered to land masses in rain water, and absorbed by plants. MSM is a stable end product of this process, serving as a primary source of sulfur in the food chain.

The Roles of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate in Joints

Articular cartilage is a connective tissue composed of specialized cells (chondrocytes) embedded in a matrix of protein fibers (mostly collagen) and clusters of complex proteoglycan molecules that consist of a protein core with numerous side chains. These side chains, chiefly chondroitin sulfate and keratin sulfate, are long polysaccharide molecules called glycosaminoglycans. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and the other glycosaminoglycans strongly attract water due to the negative charges of their sulfate groups. These negative charges also repel each other, creating spaces between glycosaminoglycan side chains where water can enter. This combination of solid and liquid gives cartilage a compressible quality that allows it to function as a shock absorber for joints.

Glucosamine is a fundamental building block for proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. Glucosamine sulfate (GS) helps to maintain joint health through its ability to both act as a component of and stimulate formation of cartilage glycosaminoglycans and the hyaluronic acid backbone essential for the formation of cartilage proteoglycans.

The Abundant Evidence Behind Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate

Extensive joint health research over the past few decades has investigated the effects of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, or a combination of the two. A 2009 meta-analysis summarized results from well-designed studies involving a total of 1,502 research participants. The authors of this meta-analysis were able to make some conclusions about the apparent effectiveness of long-term oral supplementation with CS or GS. Glucosamine sulfate at 1,500 mg daily over a period of at least 3 years and chondroitin sulfate at 800 mg daily over a period of at least 2 years both helped subjects maintain healthy knee cartilage structure. In a 2008 review of GS & CS used for joint support, the London physician who wrote it concludes that, "Glucosamine, chondroitin, and the combination of these two agents have stood the test of time."

Glucosamine sulfate is one of the most important-and thoroughly researched-dietary supplements for joint health ever developed. In addition to its potential to influence joint structure (and thus function), research also backs the ability of GS to influence joint comfort. In one such multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of 252 subjects, joint comfort in the knee was found to be higher in the glucosamine sulfate group than the placebo group. Similar studies of equal magnitude found that GS enhanced joint comfort. Key among findings from these types of studies is the reoccurring theme of a good safety profile for glucosamine sulfate; reported "side effects" of GS were essentially no different than placebo.

Similar to glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate is known to influence the maintenance of healthy cartilage-in this case by acting on matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Chondroitin sulfate has been shown to inhibit MMP-3 synthesis, which plays an important role in homeostasis of cartilage proteoglycans. Additionally, CS can downplay MMP-13 in chondrocytes, helping to maintain the integrity of articular cartilage matrix.

Clinical Trials Explore MSM's Joint Action

Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial examining the effect of MSM supplementation on joint comfort in 50 men and women are promising. Subjects taking OptiMSM™ methylsulfonylmethane for 12 weeks experienced greater joint comfort than those taking placebo, suggesting potential for MSM as a joint support nutrient that warrants further investigation in larger clinical trials.10 MSM also produced statistically significant changes in urinary malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress.

MSM has also been used in combination with glucosamine to study their impact on the health of joints. In one such study, a total of 118 subjects were randomized into one of four groups for 12 weeks: glucosamine (500 mg three times daily), MSM (500 mg three times daily), the combination of glucosamine and MSM, or a placebo treatment. Glucosamine alone and MSM alone were shown to enhance joint function, while the combination was found to be even more effective, by both subjective and objective measurements.

About Doctor's Best

Doctor's Best produces products with the highest quality raw materials available on the market. They have direct control over and are an integral part of every aspect of product production, from formulation and raw material sourcing to finished product manufacturing. We directly purchase all active ingredients used in our products and use only the highest quality ingredients.

Every product is thoroughly researched and backed by the latest scientific studies conducted in the field. The formulations reflect the amounts of ingredients shown to be beneficial based on the results of scientific investigations. Doctor's Best uses patented, trademarked ingredients backed by scientific studies and clinical research. They never use insignificant quantities to enhance the label.

Doctor's Best directly purchases only the highest grade raw materials from proven and reputable suppliers to be put into product formulations. All raw material suppliers go through their stringent vendor qualification process, which includes a multi-step investigation including all aspects of the production and handling procedures, to insure the highest level of quality is reached.