Question:
I’ve been using glucosamine for my dog for about a year, he suffers from hip dysplasia and spondylosis. Does it make sense to use it?
Answer:
Our supplements in particularly work against osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia. We have hundreds of customers who give our products to their dogs to treat these symptoms, and often enough the results are very good.
Spondylosis is a somewhat different story. Then there’s often a case of osteoarthritis as well; the intervertebral discs become thinner. But as a response to that bone growth to the vertebrae occurs. This growth may pinch neural pathways. At this stage, joint protective products can only help to recover the intervertebral discs again (products like glucosamine and chondroitin).The discs become plumper again which will provide some room.
However, the thickening of intervertebral discs again is a very slow process. In humans, it takes about two years. It does not work for everyone, but the effects in spinal osteoarthritis can be pretty good.
With spondylosis, the uncontrolled formation of the vertebrae doesn’t disappear Unfortunately we have no feedback of what the effects of our supplements are with spondylosis. We do read some positive experiences on forums, but have not yet heard positive experiences first hand. We expect that the success rate is a bit smaller than in osteoarthritis and HD.
Question:
I would like to know to what extent it is known whether glucosamine has a beneficial effect on the Tietze syndrome.
Answer:
Only once before has anyone asked if our supplements have an effect on the Tietze syndrome (costochondritis). I replied that the effect with this syndrome has not been researched. But it nevertheless seemed worth trying I said. This person has not tried it.
Glucosamine works slightly inflammatory. However, it seems that the anti-inflammatory effect of glucosamine is relatively good when it comes to some connective tissues and joint cartilage. Skin, joints and bursae respond reasonably well and tendons pretty bad.
The cartilage in the ribs that has been inflamed with the Tietze syndrome can also be categorized under joints. But these cartilage connections have less of an exchange of substances with the surrounding tissue than normal moving joints (movement ensures transportation of the nutrients). Therefore it seems to me that the effect of glucosamine with costochondritis is more comparable with the effect of tendonitis (not much effect) than the effect with arthritis
Also, costochondritis is similar to rheumatoid arthritis. That means that the inflammatory process is the result of an immune reaction.. For this, glucosamine doesn’t work as well.
With rheumatoid arthritis, fish oil/omega-3 yields the best result out of all the supplements. Research has been done on the effect of fish oil/omega-3 in rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil seems to be somewhat effective. But the dosages are pretty hefty. Side effects (particularly blood thinning) can not be ruled out. The dosage equals to be 8 of our fish oil capsules per day. Perhaps in the long run, a lower dosage is also effective.
Question:
On your website I read that I should take two omega-3/fish oil capsules a day. But isn’t it enough to take just one?
Answer:
The nutrition council advises a quantity of 450 mg of the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA per day. One capsule of our product provides 360 mg. For that reason, we recommend 2 capsules per day. But there’s nothing wrong with taking just one capsule, the difference with the recommended value isn’t that great.
Question:
I’d like to get your advice because there are so many products on the market. Today I was told I’ve osteoarthritis in both hips. What is advisable to order?
Answer:
A few of our products are intended for the treatment of osteoarthritis, especially in the knees and hips. The question is which of these products is best for you depends in part on the severity of the symptoms and in part also of your financial situation.
- The cheapest option is glucosamine. This product is suitable for mild to moderate osteoarthritis and is already fairly often successful (in approximately two thirds of the users). The number of capsules per day is 2, which may be taken all at once. The costs are €19.90 per jar, which equals about €6.60 per month.
- Many people who use glucosamine also take chondroitin. The combination of these two products amplify each other. Then the number of capsules equal 2 glucosamine and 2 chondroitin a day, that can be all taken simultaneously. The cost are €19.90 for a jar of glucosamine and €26.90 for a jar of chondroitin, which equals about €15.60 per month.
- The most powerful product is Arthro-5. Aside from glucosamine and chondroitin it contains three other ingredients: MSM, ASU and Hyal-Joint. Arthro-5 is highly recommended in moderate to severe osteoarthritis. The number of capsules is 6 per day, which can be taken at once or twice. The probability of success is high, about 80%. A jar costs €32.90 and is good for one month’s use, so that’s the monthly expense.
The shipping costs are €5. Shipping does not apply when ordering two jars of the same product.
Question:
I’ve just ordered glucosamine from you, as advised by my doctor. I ended up with you because what I read seems trustworthy. My wife wonders whether this supplement can also be used preventatively (many sports, running).
Answer:
Especially running can be quite stressful on the joints, so some extra protection can certainly do no harm. Glucosamine can be used preventatively to protect the cartilage, but personally we prefer chondroitin for that purpose.
Chondroitin is just as a powerful joint protector as glucosamine, but has no long term possible side effects. Glucosamine may have an impact on the blood sugar level with some people, such as unidentified diabetes, so with only preventative use we prefer chondroitin.
If there is existing osteoarthritis, accompanied by (morning) stiffness and pain, we recommend glucosamine because that product has a broader effect (except protecting the cartilage also joint lubrication and pain relief).
Question:
A few weeks ago I ordered Glucosamine and Chondroitin from you, two jars of each.
It was a deliberate choice because of the substances that are in it and some that are not. To my great surprise and disappointment, I read the labels of the jars this week that state that 2 E-numbers are added. By the way, one of the E-numbers is prohibited in Germany. What is your response to that?
Answer:
The used E numbers E171 and E172 are an accepted colorant for foods and are allowed in the entire EU, also in Germany. The stories that they are banned are made up on the internet and are copied by hundreds of websites without checking this information.
There is no evidence whatsoever that these E-numbers would be harmful to your health. Of course we’d rather offer the capsules without colorants to make it as naturally as possible but then we’d have to choose transparent capsules. The problem is that glucosamine and chondroitin react to the gelatin in the capsules and cause discoloration. With transparent capsules it will show as brown spots and customers might complain that the product is not good anymore according to them.
Question:
I want to start taking glucosamine because my lower back bothers me lately and becomes worse due to wear. Now my question is: what do you recommend?
Answer:
Wear (osteoarthritis) of the vertebrae in the lower back is very difficult to treat unfortunately. It often takes a year or more before you’ll notice an improvement, and only when you use glucosamine and chondroitin simultaneously. And even then there’s no guarantee that it will work.
It has not been officially proven that osteoarthritis of the intervertebral discs can be treated with glucosamine and chondroitin. There are clear indications from scientists and practitioners that recovery is possible. The scientific evidence concerns an article (link: here) which describes how a man with intervertebral disc degeneration recovers by using glucosamine and chondroitin. The recovery is followed by making scans of the vertebrae (lower back). It appears that the vertebrae become thicker and resilient again over a period of two years. The slump is thus (partly) undone.
We can see this in practice too: customers report a reduction of their symptoms after a year. Unfortunately, the supplements do not work for everyone.
I apologize that I can not offer a brighter (and faster) perspective.
Question:
My fingers on my right hand are thick and swollen, very painful when moving them, especially in the morning. Osteoarthritis, arthritis, no x-rays, have been given painkillers but only used those briefly.
I’ve been taking glucosamine and chondroitin for more than 3 months in tablet form. Been also deacidifying for over three months. Nothing works. I came across your website and saw ASU forte, and read about Arthro 5. These are capsules. I’ve been taking Omega 3 as well for some time. I’m 57 years old and still have three boys at home and a husband, so it takes a lot of energy.
Could it still be something for me, or is it all a fraud?
Answer:
Fraud is a big word. But it is true that it does not work for everyone. Sometimes it’s because the products are used for ailments not intended. For example not much can be done against arthritis with supplements.
Against osteoarthritis on the other hand they are often effective, but unfortunately it’s not for everyone (ranging from about 65% success rate for glucosamine to approximately 80% for Arthro-5). It is therefore difficult for customers to see if it’ll eventually benefit them.
In your case it is even more difficult because your symptoms are pretty complex; a combination of osteoarthritis and arthritis. You could try Arthro-5 for three months, which contains also ASU aside from the glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM that you are using, as well as Hyal-Joint. This product offers the greatest chance of success. However, we can’t guarantee anything, there is a chance that the product may not work for you. When you have used it for three months and don’t notice any improvements it’s best to stop using the product. Then continuing isn’t fraud though, but a waste of your money.
Question:
I’m a 62 year old man. According to a specialist I have a worn knee. His analysis: I need a full prothesis. I still play tennis, but after that irritation and moisture in the knee. Which of the five products could possibly still be a solution for me?
Answer:
If you should need a new knee, it would make sense to me to try the strongest possible supplement. That’s Arthro-5. Within three months (3 jars) it’ll be clear to most people if the supplement improves the situation.
Arthro-5 may reduce pain and stiffness and improve the load capacity. This can also be done with only glucosamine. But the success rate is higher with Arthro-5. The extent of pain reduction and load-bearing capacity are also greater. Unfortunately, not everyone will benefit. But the chances of improvement in knee osteoarthritis is surely 2 out of 3.
Question:
From my understanding glucosamine and chondroitin are effective with the recovery of worn cartilage, but not when the cartilage is damaged due to an injury. Is that true?
I ask, because I still have quite some pain after a shattered tibia plateau. So the pieces of cartilage got quite a blow and it’s not unlikely that I’ll be suffering from it at a later age. Could you tell me if these supplements help in my case?
Answer:
So called secondary osteoarthritis may occur years after an accident. The damage to the joint during the accident results in a sped up ‘wear’. As you have already indicated, the chances are great that a damaged tibial plateau will lead to this type of osteoarthritis.
For secondary osteoarthritis, glucosamine and chondroitin are quite effective. The longer it took since the accident before the osteoarthritis was felt, the greater the chance of success with these supplements.
It’s indeed unlikely that greater structural damage that occurred right after the accident is treatable with glucosamine and chondroitin.
