Glucosamine:
The building block of natural lubricants Flex
GL™ Maximum Strength by Vita Flex®
is a rich and concentrated 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. The glucosamine and vitamin C
in Flex GL™Maximum Strength work together to enhance
nutritional synergy.
Flex
GL™ Max: Our best glucosamine value! Although
Flex GL™ Maximum Strength is 100% concentrated (just a
small amount of extra mineral ingredient is added to keep it
easy to feed in the barn), it's very palatable for horses
and is a cinch to feed. Each small serving scoop supplies a
minimum of 5,000 mg glucosamine HCl plus 5,000 mg ascorbic
acid. For more information about the different kinds of
glucosamine and what they contain, please see our FAQs
section. To quickly compare glucosamine HCL to glucosamine
sulfate, see this graph.
Recommended
Feeding Feed 2 to 3 scoops daily
for up to 30 days, one scoop daily for maintenance. Serving
scoop enclosed.
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