The human body produces glucosamine naturally, and it is mainly found in the fluid that is around the joints. Glucosamine, as found in the human body, is one of the compounds required by the body to build and maintain tendons, cartilage, and ligaments.2 *
DEVA Glucosamine is perfect for vegans, vegetarians or people with shellfish allergies who would also like to benefit from glucosamine.*
In order to provide peace-of-mind to our consumers, our products have been certified as 100% Vegan by the non-profit Vegan Society. This non-profit organization, which first coined the phrase "vegan," has a strict and detailed process for registering vegan products.
Glucosamine HCL vs Glucosamine Sulphate:
Stability: Glucosamine and glucosamine sulphate degrade easily, especially if damp. To try to overcome this manufacturers add either sodium or potassium chloride, in addition to the sulphate. This means that over two fifths (40%) of its weight may be made up of additives. To prevent further destruction, vitamin C can be added as a preservative and calcium carbonate as a desiccant. Some glucosamine sulphate preparations claim to be salt free when in fact they are actually SODIUM free. They still contain up to 25% potassium chloride. If they did not, they would degrade rapidly into a black mush. On the other hand glucosamine hydrochloride is naturally stable and requires no added salt or other preservatives.
Purity: Pure glucosamine sulphate can have as little as 59% 'active' glucosamine because of the chemically added sulphate and salt, whilst pure Glucosamine hydrochloride has up to 88%. DEVA Vegan Glucosamine hydrochloride mg for mg, can contain up to a third more active glucosamine.
Where does glucosamine come from? Glucosamine sulphate is typically manufactured from glucosamine hydrochloride. Glucosamine hydrochloride can be obtained from any source of cartilage, commonly beef, chicken, pig, shark, clams, shrimp or even whale. Chondroitin can also be obtained from these sources, and there are no plant alternatives. DEVA Nutrition has specifically chosen an alternative source : non-GMO corn, thus making its glucosamine 100% animal-free.
Why choose DEVA's Glucosamine hydrochloride? Glucosamine is readily absorbed by the body. A true mg to mg comparison shows that the hydrochloride typically provides more glucosamine than the sulphate salt and this may be the reason why some people prefer to choose glucosamine hydrochloride.
REFERENCES:
1- Dahmer S et al. Glucosamine. Am Fam Physician. 2008 Aug 15;78(4):471-6. PMID: 18756654
2-http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/807.html
3-Dahmer S et al. Glucosamine. PMID: 18756654
4-Skidmore-Roth L. Mosby’s Handbook of Herbs & Natural Supplements:506.