What is glucosamine?
Glucosamine is a monosaccharide derived from
glucose and glutamine (an amino acid). It is used to produce substances in
the body that attract and bind water into tissues, making them more
resilient. It is especially important to maintain properly functioning
joint structures.
How is glucosamine manufactured?
Animal-derived
glucosamine is produced by removing the proteins and minerals from the
shells of shrimp and crab. Vegetable-derived glucosamine is produced
through the fermentation of corn and other grains.
NOW has developed the
Official AOAC Method for testing glucosamine and has used this method for
the past five years.
What is the source of NOW's Chondroitin?
NOW's Chondroitin is derived
from bovine tissue from cattle. As with all of our raw materials, we screen
Chondroitin very carefully for the presence of any undesirable microbes.
NOW's state-of-the-art analytical lab has developed a method of testing
chondroitin, which is currently being verified by independent labs around
the world and is expected to become an Official Method used to test all
products containing chondroitin sulfate.
What is MSM?
MSM
(Methylsulfonylmethane) is a form of biologically available sulfur,
naturally occurring in extremely tiny amounts in plants. MSM contains 34%
elemental sulfur, by weight. Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in
the universe. The sulfur that it supplies represents about the eighth most
abundant mineral in the human body, about as much as potassium and more
than sodium. MSM is chemically known as dimethyl sulfone. Commercially, all
MSM is chemically produced but nature-identical; in other words, it's the
natural form.
How is MSM made?
There are two primary methods used for the production
of nature identical MSM. Both involve chemical synthesis from the element
sulfur. MSM is not commercially available as an extract from plants or
other natural materials. The first method starts with a reaction involving
sulfur and methane that is energy efficient. The second method starts with
petroleum byproducts reacted with paper mill waste that requires large
amounts of energy.
How is NOW's MSM made?
NOW's MSM is produced by the first method
described above. It is considered more environmentally sustainable than the
second method, which is typically far more energy-intensive and uses a
combination of paper mill waste and refined petroleum by-products.
How does MSM relate to sulfa drugs?
Other than both containing the
mineral sulfur, which is a common element in many chemicals, there is no
relationship between the two.
Sulfur is an essential element for human
life. There are many sulfur compounds in nature including sulfur dioxide,
sulfur-containing amino acids (taurine, l-methionine, l-cysteine, NAC, and
glutathione), important sulfur compounds in food (garlic, onions, and
broccoli), sulfur in joints, connective tissue, keratin, skin, and hair.
Sulfur-based biochemicals provide free radical fighting properties, assist
in normal detoxification, have anti-aging and cardiovascular benefits, and
help keep our bodies' joints well maintained.
By contrast, sulfonamides
(sulfa drugs) are pharmaceuticals that are derived from sulfanilamide,
another sulfur-containing chemical. Most sulfa drugs are antibiotics; some
are prescribed as treatment for ulcerative colitis. Unlike MSM or sulfur,
sulfa drugs work by disrupting the production of dihydrofolic acid, a form
of the B vitamin folic acid that both gut bacteria and human cells use for
producing proteins.
