GLUCOSAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Ardern Healthcare was one of the first companies in the UK to offer glucosamine hydrochloride, convinced of its superiority over glucosamine sulphate. It is interesting to note that many of the companies previously staunchly advocating glucosamine sulphate have been putting glucosamine hydrochloride in their newer products!

From July 1st 2005, Ardern Healthcare has changed their formulation from the original one derived from the shells of seafood to one derived from a corn base that has undergone a special fermentation under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) in the USA.

Since the glucosamine hydrochloride is derived from corn the product is free of any shellfish allergens. It is also certified kosher parve and Kosher for Passover by the Orthodox Union (OU). Being non-animal derived; it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

The glucosamine hydrochloride is manufactured to meet the specifications of the National Formulary (NF) as published by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP).

In short – the same high quality glucosamine hydrochloride can benefit even more people!

Glucosamine 60 x 750 mg capsules Normal retail: £14.99 On-Line Price: £9.99

or

On-Line Special Offer Price: 2 packs for £16.99

GLUCOSAMINE: SOME INTERESTING FACTS

Stability: Glucosamine and glucosamine sulphate degrade easily, especially if damp. To try to overcome this manufacturers add either sodium or potassium chloride, in addition to the sulphate. This means that over two fifths (40%) of its weight may be made up of additives. To prevent further destruction, vitamin C can be added as a preservative and calcium carbonate as a desiccant. (In relatively small amounts which some manufacturers sell as a benefit!) Some glucosamine sulphate preparations claim to be salt free when in fact they are actually SODIUM free. They still contain up to 25% potassium chloride. If they did not, they would degrade rapidly into a black mush. On the other hand glucosamine hydrochloride is naturally stable and requires no added salt or other preservatives.

Purity: Pure glucosamine sulphate can have as little as 59% 'active' glucosamine because of the chemically added sulphate and salt, whilst pure Glucosamine hydrochloride has up to 88%. Ardern Healthcare's Glucosamine hydrochloride CP is certified over 99.1% pure and so, mg for mg, can contain up to a third more glucosamine.

Where does glucosamine come from? Glucosamine sulphate is manufactured from glucosamine hydrochloride. Glucosamine hydrochloride can be obtained from any source of cartilage, commonly beef, pig, shark or even whale. Chondroitin is also obtained from these sources, and there are no plant altematives. Ardern Healthcare has specifically chosen an alternative renewable source, namely a vegetarian glucosamine manufactured from a corn base that undergoes a special fermentation process. Our glucosamine is extracted to chemical purity (CP) under stringent conditions and USA Food & Drug Administration monitoring.

Why choose Ardern's Glucosamine hydrochloride? Glucosamine is readily absorbed by the body and into cartilage. Glucosamine sulphate is converted by stomach acid into the hydrochloride before absorption. Scientific rescarch has shown that glucosamine hydrochloride is used by cartilage and our glucosamine hydrochloride has been scientifically tested in North America. A true mg to mg comparison shows that the hydrochloride provides more glucosamine than the sulphate salt and this may be the reason why some people prefer to choose glucosamine hydrochloride.

How long should glucosamine be taken for? Glucosamine is a nutritional supplement. Aged cartilage contains less glucosamine and benefit takes time, commonly over a month to six weeks. Benefits can be seen to continue up to a year. Often if intake stops, the benefits can wear off over six weeks.

What is the optimum daily intake? For the full benefits of glucosamine to be felt, scientific studies indicate that a daily intake of 1500mg should be maintained. Ths is achieved by taking just two capsules of glucosamine HCl daily. In comparison some sulphate brands deliver as little as 300mg daily. Consequently the purchaser must carefully scan advertisements offering tempting low cost "High" or "Premium" strength glucosamine. The reality is that the apparent savings may be money wasted as a consequence of purchasing a woefully inadequate daily intake. Always read the labels carefully.

What about chondroitin? Like glucosamine there have been reports of the positive benefits of chondroitin. Chondroitin is a long chain polysaccharide extracted from animal (bovine, chicken, pig, shark, whale) cartilage. Purity varies widely, but some animal protein is nearly always present. It is very expensive and no doubt, for this reason, most available preparations contain low amounts of chondroitin. This is usually well below the recommended intake of 1200 mg daily used in scientific studies. The absorption rate of chondroitin in the body is substantially less than that of glucosamine. There are no studies showing that its combination with glucosamine is any better than the two taken separately. Chondroitin is degraded into its components which are similar to, but less effective than, glucosamine. In fact, one experiment has shown that these combination products may reduce the effectiveness of glucosamine.

My stomach is sensitive to painkillers. Can I take glucosamine? Painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) can result in damage to the lining of the stomach. Glucosamine works in a totally different fashion and has not been seen to produce these effects. If in doubt always consult your healthcare professional.

Ardern Healthcare has tried to choose the best form of glucosamine available to give the best quality and purity.
Ardern's promise is 'No gimmicks:- Glucosamine pure and simple'