Foods and supplements containing "chondroprotective agents" have become popular in the petfood aisle. In general, these products are targeted at aging animals with deteriorating joints and, to a lesser degree, large-breed dogs. The two most common elements found in these joint-health products are chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. Together they are reported to reduce joint pain and stiffness in dogs afflicted with osteoarthritis (Canapp, et al., 1999; McCarthy, et al., 2006).
While chondroitin sulfate plays a large and defined structural role, glucosamine is a more elemental part of collagen and cartilage formation. Last month's column focused on chondroitin sulfateits origin, production forms and analysis. This month's focus is on the smaller but more prevalent half of this pairglucosamine.
