RE: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
I do not use the COSTCO generic. I was speaking of the human version of Nutramax Cosequin DS which is Cosamin DS. Cosamin DS at Costco runs about $65 for 230 capsules with a rebate -- considerably cheaper than Cosequin DS from the vet. Nancy Melone -Original Message- From: Valerie Young [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2003 10:26 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic > I should go to the COSTCO and buy the > human formulation of Cosequin DS. It was much cheaper and is identical in > formulation. Maybe. Maybe not. The brand name CosaminDS (Nutramax) from Costco is the one that has a lot of studies done on it - my vet recommended it even tho it is quite a bit more expensive than the Costco generic. There usually is a $10 rebate on it if you check on the web under CosaminDS. Valerie
RE: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
Jane: My understanding (from one of my vets) is that there have been several controlled studies done...initially, there were positive effects on (1) dogs who already suffered joint issues, and later (2) on puppies at risk but who had not presented symptoms yet. One of my vets (an Irishman) told me that in Ireland human patients must undergo a year of therapy on G/C before they are eligible for certain joint surgeries. One can never be sure if this requirement is because of demonstrated effectiveness of the nutraceutical or a need for the health care system to manage the flow of patients to the operating theatre. Now to make this all the more confusing, more recently, I read (maybe in the Mayo or Harvard Health Newsletter - can't remember exactly) that there is some very preliminary clinical evidence that use of G/C can raise blood cholesterol levels in SOME fraction of human patients. As a person who is trained in research design and statistics, there are many variables in assessing the validity and quality of research studies. For example, typically, in human studies one cannot performed controlled experiments in certain treatment circumstances because of ethical reasons (e.g., withholding a cure for AIDS from the control group to evaluate the effectiveness of the cure in the treatment group). In many cases, we as researchers cannot do the ideal or perfect study because we cannot collect the data that we want or we cannot randomly assign subjects to treatments. While I do not think that a test of the effectivenss of G/C is in that category, I do know that a lot of what passes as "research" and "definitive studies" (including on the effectiveness of various medical therapies) is fundamentally flawed from a design point of view and does not permit the conclusions that some authors would like to assert. Having said that, what we as laypersons try to do is make the best decisions that we can with the information that we have obtained through our reading and consulting with veterinary or human health care professionals in whom we have developed confidence in their knowledge and trust in their abilities to use that knowledge wisely. Nancy Melone Mars, PA
Re: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
- Original Message - From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I don't know about absorption...but some of the academic papers I've read > make a point of saying that their research was done using laboratory grade > glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate and that they couldn't be sure the > commercially available products would provide similar effects. A recent double blind study was conducted with horses using a name brand joint supplement to see if it actually had any measurable effects. They found that it indeed did improve soundness in mildly lame horses, increased joint movement range, and had other beneficial effects on the joints. The horse supplement used was Corta-FLX which is available through veterinarians. Up until this point the usefulness of feed-through joint supplements was questionable, although most agreed injectable supplements were effective. Eileen Morgan The Mare's Nest http://www.enter.net/~edlehman --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.431 / Virus Database: 242 - Release Date: 12/17/2002
Re: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
In a message dated 1/3/2003 10:41:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > When these products first came out one of my vets mentioned that it made no > sense to him that any of these supplements would be effective as he did not > believe they stayed in the GI system long enough to be absorbed. I don't know about absorption...but some of the academic papers I've read make a point of saying that their research was done using laboratory grade glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate and that they couldn't be sure the commercially available products would provide similar effects. -Sherri V.
RE: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
Vilma's advice is well taken. I do not buy a generic. The Cosamin DS for humans that I buy for my dogs is manufactured by the same company that manufactures Cosequin DS for veterinary use -- Nutramax. The human version claims to be "the only G/C sulfate brand proven effective in controlled U.S. published studies to reduce joint pain and protect cartilage." Not that I believe everything that advertisers say, but I have stayed with the identical manufacturer of the vet prescribed G/C and use the human version, assuming that the human formulation is at least equal to or better than the veterinary one. I could be wrong, but given that I will use a G/C product this seemed to be my wisest choice. Nancy -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 6:28 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic In a message dated 1/3/2003 8:44:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I should go to the COSTCO and buy the > human formulation of Cosequin DS. It was much cheaper and is identical in > formulation. Maybe. Maybe not. Generic over the counter products may or may not contain what the label claims they do. No one actually checks on them. Especially when you are talking about "nutraceuticals" and herbal type products that are produced and sold w/out the supervision of the FDA, you just never really know what you are getting. You know nothing about product purity or dosing. I was at a medical conference recently where a group of researchers actually bought 10 different brands of a common herbal product (I forget whether it was ginsing or black cohoshsomething like that) and analysed the products. All the companies had labeling that claimed the same dosage of the same product. The range of what WAS actually in the pills they were selling was amazingfrom NONE of the "active ingredient" at all to several times the dose listed. Buyer beware! If you are buying a product not under FDA regulation, I would go w/ a well recognised brand name w/ a repuation to protect. Vilma Briggs, MD Mt. Gilead, OH U-UD Mocha Java Slurp, UDX, HIC, TT Ch. Brighteye Expresso Bean, UD, NDD, TT U-CDX Our Little Buddy, UD, NA, TT Thirdtym's A Charm, CGC and Ted
Re: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
The other thing to be concerned about when reviewing brands and ingredients is digestibility. I believe even opening the capsule and putting the powder on food makes a difference. The latest fad in vitamins is a spray delivery system for better absorption. More effective? I don't know. When these products first came out one of my vets mentioned that it made no sense to him that any of these supplements would be effective as he did not believe they stayed in the GI system long enough to be absorbed. But he also said he can't deny that he's seen positive effects, it just puzzled him. This was years back, don't know what his thinking is now. jane heggen & the boys of iowa - Original Message - From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 9:08 AM Subject: Re: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic > > Nancy wrote: > > I should go to the COSTCO and buy the human formulation of Cosequin DS. It > > was much cheaper and is identical in formulation. > > Vilma wrote: > > Maybe. Maybe not. > > Generic over the counter products may or may not contain what the label > > claims they do. > > and my .02 > > The company that makes Cosequin DS (Nutramax Labs) markets the same product > for people under the Cosemin DS label... as well as their original powder > formulation for horses. Wish there was a Costco near me > > -Sherri V. > > >
Re: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic
Nancy wrote: > I should go to the COSTCO and buy the human formulation of Cosequin DS. It > was much cheaper and is identical in formulation. Vilma wrote: > Maybe. Maybe not. > Generic over the counter products may or may not contain what the label > claims they do. and my .02 The company that makes Cosequin DS (Nutramax Labs) markets the same product for people under the Cosemin DS label... as well as their original powder formulation for horses. Wish there was a Costco near me -Sherri V.
