| |
Product Review: Joint Supplements (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM) |
|
|
 |
HOW PRODUCTS WERE EVALUATED:
How Products were Selected:
Products were selected to represent those commonly sold and/or available nationally in the U.S. and Canada. ConsumerLab.com purchased products on the open market through retail stores, on-line retailers, and direct sales or multi-level marketing companies. Products were not accepted directly from manufacturers.
Testing Method:
Products containing glucosamine or chondroitin were first analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), with chondroitin-containing products enzymatically digested prior to analysis. Products that did not pass this initial test were re-analyzed in another independent laboratory using a HPLC method or capillary electrophoresis (CE) (for chondroitin).
Products containing MSM were tested for their claimed amount of MSM and for DMSO. Analysis for MSM and DMSO was performed using a Gas Chromatography (GC) method. Products not having passing levels of MSM or DMSO were then re-tested in a second independent laboratory using a comparable GC method.
Disintegration of non-chewable, non-capsule, non-enteric coated and non-time-release formulations were analyzed utilizing USP (United States Pharmacopeia) recommendations entitled "Disintegration and Dissolution of Nutritional Supplements."
Analyses for lead were performed using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy) method.
Analyses were conducted in independent laboratories to which the brand identities of the products were not disclosed. Any product not passing an initial analysis was retested in a second independent laboratory on at least one of the criteria on which it did not initially pass.
Passing Score: *
To pass testing, a product must meet the following criteria:
All Products Tested:
- Meet recommended USP parameters for disintegration for vitamin-mineral supplements (excluding capsule, enteric coated, chewable and time-release products).
- Meet all FDA labeling requirements.
Glucosamine:
- Contain at least 100%, and not more than 150%, of claimed amount of the appropriate claimed form(s) of glucosamine.
- Not exceed California Prop 65 levels for lead contamination in a recommended daily serving and, in no event, exceed 2 mcg of lead in a recommended daily serving. (The State of California has established its own strict standards for lead, including 0.5 micrograms of lead per day for foods and most supplements. Products sold in California that exceed these levels, are required to bear warning labels).
Chondroitin:
Contain at least 100%, and not more than 150%, of claimed amount of total chondroitin.
MSM:
Contain at least 100%, and not more than 125%, of claimed amount of MSM and less than 0.05% DMSO (%wt/wt).
A product passed if it passed each applicable criterion in any one of the analyses.
* Passing scores allow for specific margins of technical error associated with each analysis. ConsumerLab.com reserves the right to disqualify a product at any time from passing if it considers such product to present a safety risk or to provide misleading or inaccurate label information.
Back to review
Back to review
|
|
|
|
|
