Evaluation of glucosamine levels in commercial equine oral supplements for joints

Efficacy of Chondroprotective Food Supplements Based on Collagen Hydrolysate and Compounds Isolated from Marine Organisms

Osteoarthritis belongs to the most common joint diseases in humans and animals and shows increased incidence in older patients. The bioactivities of collagen hydrolysates, sulfated glucosamine and a special fatty acid enriched dog-food were tested in a dog patient study of 52 dogs as potential therapeutic treatment options in early osteoarthritis. Biophysical, biochemical, cell biological and molecular modeling methods support that these well-defined substances may act as effective nutraceuticals. Importantly, the applied collagen hydrolysates as well as sulfated glucosamine residues from marine organisms were strongly supported by both an animal model and molecular modeling of intermolecular interactions. Molecular modeling of predicted interaction dynamics was evaluated for the receptor proteins MMP-3 and ADAMTS-5. These proteins play a prominent role in the maintenance of cartilage health as well as innate and adapted immunity. Nutraceutical data were generated in a veterinary clinical study focusing on mobility and agility. Specifically, key clinical parameter (MMP-3 and TIMP-1) were obtained from blood probes of German shepherd dogs with early osteoarthritis symptoms fed with collagen hydrolysates. Collagen hydrolysate, a chondroprotective food supplement was examined by high resolution NMR experiments. Molecular modeling simulations were used to further characterize the interaction potency of collagen fragments and glucosamines with protein receptor structures. Potential beneficial effects of collagen hydrolysates, sulfated glycans (i.e., sulfated glucosamine from crabs and mussels) and lipids, especially, eicosapentaenoic acid (extracted from fish oil) on biochemical and physiological processes are discussed here in the context of human and veterinary medicine.

The Safety and Efficacy in Horses of Certain Nutraceuticals that Claim to Have Health Benefits

Equine nutraceuticals are promoted as useful therapies to help optimize health and athletic performance, often without the benefit of independent research to support product efficacy and safety. This review focuses on 4 main categories of equine supplements that are frequently used as nutraceuticals: (i) supplements to support metabolic health, (ii) gastric support products, (iii) common ingredients that are included in supplements designed to support hoof health, and (iv) supplements to support joint health.

Synthesis and characterization of a new Peptide prodrug of glucosamine with enhanced gut permeability

The aim of this study was to synthesize a peptide prodrug of glucosamine (GlcN) with increased gut permeability through the gut peptide transporter 1 (PepT1). Glycine-Valine ester derivative of GlcN (GVG) was synthesised using solid phase synthesis followed by characterization and evaluation of its physicochemical and intestinal stability. In addition, GVG was evaluated for its ability to be biotransformed to GlcN in the liver homogenate. In vitro absorption of the new prodrug through everted rat gut was also assessed. GVG demonstrated significant and meaningful increased gut permeability as compared with GlcN. It showed favorable stability in the gut and a quick cleavage to GlcN after exposure to the liver homogenate. In conclusion, a novel prodrug of glucosamine with superior gut permeability compared to GlcN was developed and successfully tested in vitro.

Comparison of pharmacokinetics of glucosamine and synovial fluid levels following administration of glucosamine sulphate or glucosamine hydrochloride

OBJECTIVE

To compare the pharmacokinetics of glucosamine and the synovial fluid levels attained following treatment with glucosamine sulphate or glucosamine hydrochloride in a large animal model at clinically relevant doses.

METHODS

Eight adult female horses were used. Crystalline glucosamine sulphate (Dona) or glucosamine hydrochloride was administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg by either intravenous (i.v.) injection or nasogastric (n.g.) intubation. Plasma samples were collected before dosing and at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 360, 480 and 720 min after dosing. Synovial fluid samples were collected from the radiocarpal joints within 48 h before dosing and at 1, 6 and 12 h post-dosing. Glucosamine was assayed by Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS).

RESULTS

Plasma concentrations reached approximately 50 microg/mL after i.v. injection and approximately 1 microg/mL after n.g. administration of both types of glucosamine. The median oral bioavailability was 9.4% for glucosamine sulphate and 6.1% for glucosamine hydrochloride. Synovial fluid concentrations were significantly higher at 1 and 6 h following oral treatment with glucosamine sulphate compared to glucosamine hydrochloride. Twelve hours following oral administration, glucosamine levels in the plasma and the synovial fluid were still significantly higher than baseline for the glucosamine sulphate preparation, but not for the hydrochloride preparation.

CONCLUSION

Following oral administration of a clinically recommended dose of glucosamine sulphate (Dona), significantly higher synovial fluid concentrations of glucosamine are attained, when compared to an equivalent dose of glucosamine hydrochloride. Whether this difference is translated into a therapeutic effect on the joint tissues remains to be elucidated.