Chondroitin Plus is a combination of the finest quality chondroitin sulfates, glucosamine, and extract of feverfew.

Glucosamine is an important structural molecule, helping to form glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the major building block of connective tissue and joints.* It is considered a rate-limiting nutrient, in that a lack of glucosamine reduces the ability of the body to produce connective tissue at the proper rate.* Glucosamine has been shown in human clinical trials to ease joint discomfort and assist mobility.*

The Quality Difference

In Wellness Resources® supplements we use glucosamine HCL, a highly purified form of the nutrient. The other form of glucosamine used in joint support products is glucosamine sulfate. It is very unstable and degrades when exposed to moisture. To prevent this problem sodium and/or potassium salts are added to the glucosamine sulfate, typically 20% to 30% of the mixture. Deceptive companies will list glucosamine sulfate and include the salt in the total weight, thus ripping off the consumer (500 mg glucosamine sulfate is really only 350 to 400 mg of glucosamine). More reputable companies will not list the salt as part of the total weight. Even so, why ingest unneeded salt? Salt-containing glucosamine sulfate was pushed by one European manufacturer as superior simply to gain market advantage, and it is 1.5 times as expensive to produce. As soon as glucosamine sulfate hits the stomach and is exposed to hydrochloric acid, it becomes glucosamine HCL. There is no reason to pay an extra price for a salt-containing product.*

Chondroitin sulfate is a larger molecule composed of sugars attached to a hyaluronic acid backbone. It is a major component of the extra cellular matrix, important in maintaining structural integrity.* Numerous chondroitin sulfate molecules, glucosamine molecules, and sulfur-containing proteins form larger aggregates known as proteoglycans, which are used as major structural building blocks, including the structure of cartilage.* Chondroitin sulfates are required for joint integrity, providing resistance of cartilage to compression.*

Chondroitin sulfates are obtained in the diet by eating meat, which naturally contains 1%-2% chondroitin sulfate. Purified chondroitin sulfate supplements have demonstrated an impressive ability to support joint structure.* Not only is chondroitin sulfate a main structural component of cartilage, supplements of chondroitin sulfate have been shown to help activate chondrocytes (cartilage-building carpenter cells) and have demonstrated a protective effect against cartilage wear and tear.*

Wellness Resources uses 90% purified chondroitin sulfates, the highest quality available. Many manufacturers use a 60% purified material, yielding considerable less of the active nutrient. This is not listed on their labels.*

Thus, while chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are popular nutrients for joint support, consumers do not always get what they think they are getting. Count on Wellness Resources for quality that matters.*

Feverfew is an herb that has been used for centuries in folk medicine to assist mild joint swelling.* Like a variety of joint support nutrients, cell studies demonstrate that the active component of feverfew (parthenolide) modulates the important cellular gene signal, NF-kappaB.* Our standardized extract is a 12:1 concentrate, meaning that 100 mg is like 1200 mg of plain herb. It is standardized to contain at least .7% parthenolide, twice as much as most extracts.