herbal supplements vs. 'scientific' ones

[Ziggy_]

was wondering which people have found to be better?

for example- joint supplements..

one containing MSM, glucosamine etc such as NAF superflex
or
one containg nettle, comfrey etc such as D&H mobility?

any stories, on any kind of supplement, welcome!

 

[JLD]

i use cortaflex all year and devils claw in winter. difficult to prove what he would be like if I didnt but want to protect him as much as possible as known OA in hock but never had symptoms yet. he is moving better than ever on this regime.

 

[Scarlett1980]

i think the thing to do if you really want a guarentee, is to look for ones that have actually been proven - be they herbal or other. There aren't actually any joint supplements which have been proven to work in horses - even cortaflex and other animal based ones (MSM, Glucosamine etc) have not yet been proven to work so I suppose you just have to go on recommendations, trial and error.

Some supplements like naf respirator and winergy ventilate (both antioxidant based) have been proven to work, there is stuff from the animal health trust on both of them so if i needed a respiratory supplement i'd chose either of those over a herbal one.

I don't suppose that really helps much but I would always look for ones that can verify they are 'scientifically proven in horses' as well as good recommendations from people i know.

 

[rforsyth1984]

There is scientific research on glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate supplements and their efficacy in horses (and other animals), just like the ones that have been done for ventilate and respirator.

How many studies have been done on respirator/ventilate? One paper/study does not 'prove' that something works.

its very difficult to prove these supplements really do work, ultimately any research that has been done largely consists of poorly conducted studies which do not provide reliable results (i.e. small subject numbers, lack of a placebo group, uncontrolled variables, lack of quantitative evidence etc), and the better ones seem to have a fairly equal balance of those that suggest (not prove) the supplements are beneficial, and those that suggest they are not.

Thats without taking into account individuals - some things seem to work for some horses but not others.

 

[Loika]

I read somewhere that only MSM had any scientific evidence(very limited) and the other "essential" ingrediants of joint suppliments (Chondrotin (shark Cartilage) and Glucosamine) was anicdotal.
I think it is very easy to be taken in by companies, I am not sure they are govened by the same advertising rules as for Human products but then look at the mosturiser creams promising age reversing on your skin!! I was even told by one shop asistant that the herbal suppliments were "more Pure" than the compounds, which with all the dried plant matter in the tube I found an illogical statement (not want to sound too Vulcan but...). Use whatever works but try to be consistant and objective in your observations, ie dont try 5 products at once! I think you will find something that will suit your horse eventually. It is a mine field and with the slick marketing used by companies, very confusing!