QUESTION
What make of glucosamine would you recommend? I see there's a US product called Synoflex. Also Johnson Vet do a liquid form called 4Joints. Or would you recommend that Cosequin is the best? I'd prefer to purchase myself rather than having to keep visiting the vet.
Rosemary
ANSWER
Dear Rosemary
The main form of glucosamine that you will find in the health shops is glucosamine sulphate. The most effective form is n-acetyl glucosamine and the next best is glucosamine hydrochloride. Glucosamine sulphate has poor absorption and is not very stable so has potassium chloride put in to try to stabilise it and change it into glucosamine hydrochloride. The majority of this glucosamine is the removed from circulation by the liver before getting to the joints where it can do good. n-acetyl glucosamine will have the vast majority absorbed and get to the joints whilst glucosamine hydrochloride has excellent absorption from the stomach but you still lose around 80% before it gets to the joints.
To get less technical avoid where possible glucosamine sulphate due to poor effectiveness and potential problems of potassium overload. Synoquin and Cosequin are the 2 best products on the market by far. Synoquin should work out around 15% cheaper than cosequin and operates a saver card that you will get a free pot for the first 6 and then after that for every 5 supplied direct by the manufacturer who is vet plus. Synoquin is the only available glucosamine that contains a reasonable level of n-acetyl glucosamine.
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