<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

On 3/8/2002 sandybill <[log in to unmask] wrote:

“There are always different points of view, not necessarily more right than
another POV.   I tried three different brands of G/C several  years ago and
got no effect from
any of them except that one upset my stomach. Then when I was talking to
my orthopedic doc about the arthritis he asked me if I'd tried G/C. I told
him
I had and it did nothing. He said to try Cosamin DS, which is prescription
pure”

For another point of view one might want to consider information on the
website of Dr. Jason Theodosakis at:
http://www.drtheo.com/products.html

Dr. Theodosakis is the author of the excellent books on the use of
Glucosamine and Chondroitin in the treatment of arthritis.  Regarding
Cosamin DS he states:

“Cosamin DS (Nutramax) - available through pharmacies and some physicians?
offices. Capsules can be opened and sprinkled on food (for those who cannot
swallow pills). Each capsule contains 500 mg glucosamine and 400 mg
chondroitin. Chronic users of Cosamin should ask their doctor to order a
serum (blood) level of manganese, a mineral present in these supplements,
to make sure too much of the mineral is not accumulating in the body.
Though proably not serious, the long-term effects of excessive manganese
are not well known.”

Another site states:
http://www.healthatoz.com/atoz/HealthUpdate/alert03172001.html

“In January, ConsumerLab.com issued an alert that two
glucosamine/chondroitin products it examined last year contained levels of
manganese that exceeded the new limit of 11 milligrams per day for adults,
as established by the Institute of Medicine. One of the products has been
reformulated with less manganese, ConsumerLab.com says. Abnormally high
intake of manganese can cause neurological side effects similar to
Parkinson's disease.”

Elsewhere Cosamin DS is reported to have 5 mg of manganese per pill.  At
the recommended dose of 3 pills or 1500 mg of Glucosamine per day one would
exceed the designated upper limit for manganese.  Perhaps this is the
reason Theodosakis recommends blood testing.  It is noteworthy that the
manufacturer of Cosamin DS recommends tapering off to two pills per day,
which would put one below the upper limit for manganese, but apparently the
company does not explain why.

However, if one takes a multivitamin that includes 5 mg of manganese, as I
do, then one would still be above the upper limit for manganese on two
tables of Cosamine DS per day.  I have found reducing the amount of G\C is
not an option; therefore Cosamin DS is not a brand I can consider.

Perhaps Vance and others taking Cosamin DS should ask their physicians to
order a serum (blood) level test for manganese as recommended by Dr.
Theodosakis.

Bob

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*