Don't buy CosaminDS brand Glucosamine/Chondtroitin until you've read this.

My Experience With CosaminDS

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are supposed to be good for your joint pains. My knees were stiff, sore and swollen, suddenly after about 25 years of regular exercising.  Not wanting to cut back on all the fun I'd been having, I looked into what I could do.  I wanted to know not only how to get pain relief, but also how to prevent more pain and if possible how to correct the cause of it.

To cut to the chase, I am on CosaminDS by Nutramax Laboratory, the premium formula of glucosamin/chondroitin.   This stuff is premium, and I am cheap, so here's the best deal I have found (updated - June 7, 2008).  Click on  CosaminDS  to see 216 capsules for only $49.95.  That is at least $25 less than the last 2 times I bought it.

Here is what I learned followed by my personal experience:

Since there are so many claims for what glucosamine and chondroitin can do for you,  I looked for the facts.

Probably the most objective determination, so far, has come from the 2002, $12.5 million study by the National Institute of Health, called Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT).

The GAIT determined that the glucosamine/chondroitin supplement was effective in reducing moderate to severe osteoarthritis knee pain.  The how and the why remain uncertain.

The glucosamine and chondroitin formulation being used in the GAIT is only available to us as CosaminDS from Nutramax Labs.

There are other studies and other suggestions of good benefits from taking a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement.
 

What are glucosamine and chondroitin, anyway?

According to the Arthritis Foundation website, glucosamine participates in the formation and repair of cartilage, helps cartilage absorb water, and helps keep joints lubricated.

Chondroitin is part of a large protein molecule that gives cartilage its elasticity, enhances the shock absorbing properties collagen, and protects cartilage from breakdown.

Whoa! Cartilage? Collagen? Arthritis? Large Molecules?

No kidding. Here's what I found out.

Cartilage is specialized fibrous connective tissue that protects in-joint bone surfaces.  It is also important inside bone, tendons, skin, corneas, arterial walls and heart valves.

Collagen is a strong fibrous protein having structural and protective properties.

Arthritis is a huge subject.  The focus here turns out to be osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis refers to the degeneration of joints that is part of the normal aging process.  By degeneration is meant that the cartilage covering the ends of bones, in joints, deteriorates.  This deterioration leads to pain and decreased movement from bone rubbing against bone.

Osteoarthritis is also known as Degenerative Joint Disease and is the most common form of arthritis.

Then there's the Large Molecule issue.  This relates to the question, "Does your glucosamine and chondroitin supplement even get absorbed from your gut?".  The answer is along the lines of:  Large Molecules do not get absorbed and small molecules do.

Therefore, you want your chondroitin to be the low molecular weight variety that has been tested in the GAIT and other major studies and that is found exclusively in CosaminDS.

So What Else Might Glucosamine and Chondroitin be Good For?

Studies continue, but here are some suggested benefits.

Releiving hip pain as well as knee pain, reducing the need for medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Decreasing or halting arthritic joint damage.

Decreasing cartilage degeneration.

May promote transport of nutrients to nourish cartilage.

May have a role in the treatment or prevention of hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).

My Personal Results of Taking This Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplement

I am a 55 year old guy.  I play basketball and volleyball, weekly.  Run at least 4 miles at a crack. In the summer I add ultimate frisbee once a week and as much tennis as I can get.

As I mentioned, I am a bit of a cheapskate.  I started out taking the lowest priced glucosamine/chondroitin that I could find.  I took them sporadically in the beginng, so it wasn't a very good test.

I started taking CosaminDS religiously, about 30 months ago, in response to the afore mentioned knee discomforts.  I have not looked back.

My knees are like new.

My chronic (15 years) low back pain is about one quarter as uncomfortable as it had been, and seems to to getting even better , month by month.

Summary

So, that's my experience and what I have learned about glucosamin, chondroitin and LINK  CosaminDS by Nutramax Labs.

CosaminDS is a bit more expensive, if you ignore how well it works.  I consider it to be one of my better investments.

I buy a new batch about every 200 days, and I am always hunting for a bargain.  As of June, 2008, you can get 216 capsules of CosaminDS brand glucosamine and chondrotin for $50.95 through Amazon.  Click on CosaminDS to go straight to this deal, and see if you don't get great results like me.