Are All Chondroitin Sulfates the Same?

Let’s first start with the basics. What is chondroitin?

Chondroitin, also known as chondroitin sulfate, is a naturally occurring substance found in the connective tissue of the body. It is one of the main components of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints.

Chondroitin has a few roles as it mainly absorbs fluids (mostly water) into the connective tissue, is responsible for blocking enzymes that break down cartilage, and provides the materials needed for the body to produce new cartilage. It has also been proven to possess antioxidant properties which can further help alleviate inflammation in joints.

Chondroitin vs. Glucosamine?

Typically, chondroitin is used in combination with another ingredient, glucosamine, to help treat joint discomfort. While many doctors recommend glucosamine sulfate for joint health, chondroitin sulfate as a stand-alone product is popular due to its studied benefits.

While chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate are different, they both aim to achieve the same results in different ways. Glucosamine is an amino sugar that helps with overall cartilage health while chondroitin sulfate—also a molecule found naturally within the body—helps the cartilage retain water, promotes overall cartilage flexibility, and improves shock-absorbing properties.

Glucosamine is normally sourced from shellfish. Chondroitin sulfate on the other hand, derives from animal sourced ingredients, primarily from a cow—bovine.

Glucosamine sulfate has studies proving effectiveness primarily on knee joints. Chondroitin sulfate has been shown to work well not only in the knee joints but also on hand joints. Chondroitin sulfate has been studied in over 40 different clinical trials as a standalone ingredient to provide joint relief.

Are All Chondroitin Sulfates the Same?

Short answer….no. There are many products that claim to contain high quality chondroitin sulfate but then fail to provide the necessary dosage or even chemical structure needed to provide meaningful results.

Chondroitin sulfate as a stand-alone product (without glucosamine) is recommended in Europe as a baseline treatment for joint relief in both the knees and hands. Recommended dosage ranges from 800 mg to 1200 mg. However, most studies use the 1200 mg dosage.

Aside from the right dosage, the typical chondroitin sulfate that you find in the market today may use different chemical structures, especially on the levels of richness, molecular weight, and impurity profiles. This means, you may find chondroitin sulfate ingredients that contain purity levels of 90% or worse.

InvigoFlex® CS is your choice for high quality chondroitin sulfate

InvigoFlex® CS is especially formulated to provide you with a maximum strength chondroitin sulfate to support joint function and cartilage and promote good health of body joints. InvigoFlex® CS offers a chondroitin sulfate that uses the recommended dosage while also containing max purity levels of 95% - 105%.

Along with chondroitin sulfate, InvigoFlex® provides a highly-studied curcumin. Also known as turmeric, curcumin has a long history of uses to address many different health conditions, including supporting joint health. It is a plant that grows in India and Indonesia and is related to the ginger family. Curcumin has been known to contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can help with exercise related pain, stiffness, and physical function.

Our proprietary blend in InvigoFlex® CS (CIB145™) offers you a unique formulation to support you when you need it most. Get back to what you love doing and keep your life active!

References:

1. WebMD. (n.d.). CHONDROITIN SULFATE: OVERVIEW, Uses, side Effects, precautions, Interactions, dosing and reviews. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-744/chondroitin-sulfate.
2. Henrotin, Y., Mathy, M., Sanchez, C., & Lambert, C. (2010). Chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis: from in vitro studies to clinical recommendations. Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease, 2(6), 335–348. https://doi.org/10.1177/1759720X10383076