Glucosamine – comparing the different types
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Glucosamine is an ingredient commonly found in joint supplements, known for its chondroprotective properties but what should you be looking for when reading the label?
There are 3 commonly used forms of glucosamine:
- Glucosamine Hydrochloride (HCl)
- Glucosamine Sulphate (2KCl)
- N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine
Glucosamine HCl is supported by research and has greater purity and stability properties compared to glucosamine sulphate, providing over 20% more glucosamine on a weight for weight basis. This means, 12,000mg of glucosamine HCl (a typical daily serve), is not the same as 12,000mg of glucosamine sulphate. Glucosamine HCl is typically 83% actual glucosamine and glucosamine sulphate is typically only 60% actual glucosamine. Therefore, a supplement providing 12,000mg glucosamine HCl per serve actually provides 10,300mg glucosamine, whereas a supplement stating 12,000mg glucosamine sulphate per serve only provides 7200mg actual glucosamine.
N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) precursor. This form of glucosamine provides an alternative source of glucosamine that is particularly important in supporting the horses’ own anti-inflammatory processes.
The recommended daily intake of glucosamine for chondroprotection is a minimum of 10,000mg per day, which may be reduced to 5000mg per day maintenance.
Equine America products use glucosamine hydrochloride in: Glucosamine HCl 12,000, Kentucky Advanced Powder and Kentucky Joint Liquid. Kentucky Advanced Powder also contains N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.