Glucosamine:
The building block of natural lubricants Flex
GL™ by Vita Flex® is a rich
source of glucosamine and vitamin C for horses. An amino
sugar, glucosamine is an important component of the
horse's natural articular lubricants. Glucosamine makes up
half of the hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) molecule, the
key to the lubricating properties of the synovial fluid.
Glucosamine is readily converted to galactosamine to
provide 50 percent of the structure of chondroitin
sulfates, as well as keratan and dermatan sulfates. These
GAGs combine with proteins and hyaluronate in the
cartilage to form the large proteoglycans (PGs) that
lubricate and protect the cartilage surface.
Rate-limiting
step in GAG production The
production of glucosamine from glucose and glutamine is
believed to be the main “rate-limiting step” in the
body's production of GAGs. Improved dietary supplies of
pre-formed glucosamine help overcome this limitation with
natural sooupport. Tests of glucosamine's biochemical
properties reveal that it has little direct effect against
common inflammatory agents. Instead, glucosamine appears to
function as a nutritional precursor, “feeding” the
systems that make important GAGs like hyaluronate and
chondroitin sulfates. In one test, GAGs in tissues that were
deprived of normal glucosamine production returned to normal
length within 15 minutes after glucosamine was added.
(Clark, Richards, Iozza, Biochem. J., 1991, 273, 283-288)
Vitamin
C: Production and Protection Vitamin
C (ascorbic acid) helps in the formation of collagen and
GAGs, and also mediates the release of histamine and other
pro-inflammatory compounds. Vitamin C also provides broad
antioxidant protection against the free radicals that can
damage vital tissues. In collagen synthesis, vitamin C
serves both to regulate the startup process as well as to
mature the collagen protein in the final stage of
production. Like glucosamine, vitamin C has been shown in
laboratory testing to stimulate manufacture of the large
proteoglycan (PG) lubricants. Together, glucosamine and
vitamin C work to enhance nutritional synergy.
Flex
GL™ Delivers! Each one ounce
serving of Flex GL supplies 5,000 mg quality glucosamine
hydrochloride (HCl) plus 5,000 mg pure ascorbic acid. Flex
GL is blended with a pleasing, easy-to-feed granulated
dextrose base. Glucosamine HCl is a stable, well-absorbed
form that is approximately 17% hydrochloride and 83%
glucosamine. For more information about the different kinds
of glucosamine and what they contain, please see FAQs.
To quickly compare glucosamine HCL to glucosamine sulfate,
see this graph.
Recommended
Feeding Feed 2 to 3 ounces daily
for up to 30 days, one ounce daily for maintenance. Serving
scoop enclosed.
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