Glucosamine supplements are popular remedies for osteoarthritis and joint pain, but is the glucosamine in the most effective form? Do the labels honestly indicate which form is used?
Glucosamine sulfate is a natural sugar produced by the human body and found in and around the fluid and cartilage cushioning your joints. As people age, this cushioning can become thinner and stiffer and cause pain, a condition called osteoarthritis. Many people take glucosamine supplements as to ease the pain. Glucosamine may also help slow the progress of osteoarthritis.
In supplements, glucosamine generally comes in two forms: glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. Most studies of glucosamine’s effect on joint pain have been done with glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine sulfate can come from the shells of shellfish or be made in a laboratory.
Glucosamine hydrochloride is cheaper and has a different molecular structure. It is more concentrated than the sulfate type and contains less sodium, but fewer studies have been done to assess its effectiveness. Some researchers believe that it doesn’t work as well, because the body needs the sulfur provided by the sulfate part in order to make and maintain cartilage.
Glucosamine supplements are under investigation because attorneys suspect that some of these products may be mislabeled. The contents of supplements can vary widely. Some products that claim to contain glucosamine sulfate may contain only glucosamine hydrochloride. Others may contain glucosamine hydrochloride with added sulfate, which may produce a different result than glucosamine sulfate. Lab tests have shown that some products contain no glucosamine sulfate at all.
To determine whether class action lawsuits are appropriate, attorneys need to talk to people who have bought these products. A class action could help customers get money back if they’ve paid for a product that doesn’t contain what it’s supposed to. It will hold companies accountable and stop them from mislabeling products in the future.
Please contact us if you have purchased glucosamine supplements under one of the following brand names:
- Walmart Spring Valley
- GNC
- CVS Health
- Dollar Tree Nature’s Measure
- Walgreens Finest Nutrition
- Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value
- Healthy Sense
- Nature’s Bounty
- Solaray
- MRM
- Natural Factors
- Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
- Country Life
- Signature Care
- Jarrow Formulas
- Vitamin Shoppe
- Kroger
- Food Science Corp. DaVinci Laboratory
- Doctor’s Best
- Nature’s Way
- Safeway
Topic: Consumer