I am a 46 year old very physically active male who about 6 months ago began taking glucosamine sulfate at the recommendation of a chiropractor to help rebuild a lower spinal disc. The results to date have far exceeded my expectations. Recent radiographs indicate more than 25% cartilage regeneration. In addition, virtually all minor joint discomfort (for example, after a hard days work on the farm and in my knees due to an arthroscopic meniscus repair surguries on each) has disappeared.
GS is not new to me. For years I have been giving it to my dogs and llamas for successful treatment of arthritic conditions . Rather than duplicating my supply and spending more on the human GS tabs available at health food stores, I have been taking GS in the form of a powdered product distributed for animals.
Guaranteed analysis per unit is 50% ascorbic acid, 38.5% GS, 11.5% potassium chloride complex.
Ingredients: dextrose, glucosamine sulfate/potassium chloride complex, ascorbic acid, calcium silicate, silicon dioxide, natural and artificial flavorings.
My question involves a complex concern about using supplements such as this that are made for animals. In your opinion, do you feel that there are any excessive risks from taking this particular product? Are veterinarian drugs purified differently than human drugs? Are all nutritional supplements such as GS regulated by the FDA and if used for veterinary purposes purified differently or not as well?
Any information, commentary or opinion (on or off the record) regarding this would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Jim
Follow Ups:
Re: Glucosamine Sulfate
Posted by Denise Wyrick on February 21, 1999 at 11:55:24:
In Reply to: Glucosamine Sulfate posted by Jim Krowka on February 21, 1999 at 10:08:11:
Hi Jim (and fellow llama llover), Good question...especially since I prefer to do business with my veterinarian as opposed to some of the allopathic tx's I have had. Thanks for asking I'll be curious to see what Walt has to say about the purity issue... and I might start going to the vet clinic to buy GS :-) Welcome to the board.
All the best,
Denise
Re: Glucosamine Sulfate (TESTIMONIAL)
Posted by Walt Stoll on February 22, 1999 at 10:25:11:
In Reply to: Glucosamine Sulfate posted by Jim Krowka on February 21, 1999 at 10:08:11:
Thanks, Jim.
I hope everyone with arthritic problems will read this. I STILL say that "the resolution of chronic problems will NEVER be something you TAKE but something you DO".
I am happy that you are experiencing these benefits. HOWEVER, now (while you are still getting those benefits) is the time for you to become an expert on WHY this happened to you in the first place & do something about that. Eventually, if glucosamine is all you do, this problem will come back even while you are still taking the glucosamine.
Isn't it interesting that while we all know that most drugs are developed by testing them on animals and we can watch our animals get remarkable benefits from stuff like glucosamine while suffering the same conditions ourself; that we not think to do the same for ourselves?
By the way, I do the same things as you are doing (taking the veterinarian meds for myself). I see no problem with it. Proportions per # of body weight are frequently different but there are no impurities I am afraid of taking.
Walt