Those of you with a scientific mind - joint supplements

vallin

vallin

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Can anyone find a comparison of what is contained in each of the different jhoint supplements? I.e. in reality what is the difference between Cartaflex and Cortavet in terms of content? And how does this compare with suppleaze gold/NJS?

(I know there was a thread with it in a couple of years ago, but can't seem to locate it and cortavet is new since then)

Thanks :)

PS I also know that in all likelihood whatever I feed is doing naff all, but it makes me feel better ;)
 
Normally stated mg in products!

However it's a typical horses for courses thing with supplements! For instance my TB mare struggles with windgalls, been on most supplements can't say they made huge difference, was recommended using pure MSM to help inflammation and I can honestly say its now made a visible difference!
 
dianchi said:
Normally stated mg in products!

However it's a typical horses for courses thing with supplements! For instance my TB mare struggles with windgalls, been on most supplements can't say they made huge difference, was recommended using pure MSM to help inflammation and I can honestly say its now made a visible difference!
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Can't find the mg values for cortafles, and from the look of this they're not easily available, though they're the only ones that seem to offer any scientific backing in terms of published papers : http://www.riaflex-equine.co.uk/product_riaflex_complete.htm
 
I did this a while back basing it on a paper I read about what's required to protect the joints etc

Some of the main ones are just a total waste of money NAF liquid superflex being one off the top of my head

Anyway after 3 hours of research the one that meeted the requirements the closest was

Maxavite Maxaflex

So I've moved my boy onto this

£15 a month too from viovet so worked out good value for money and cheaper than NAF superflex which is been using before and turned out to be if no use anyway.
 
Ludoctro said:
I did this a while back basing it on a paper I read about what's required to protect the joints etc

Some of the main ones are just a total waste of money NAF liquid superflex being one off the top of my head

Anyway after 3 hours of research the one that meeted the requirements the closest was

Maxavite Maxaflex

So I've moved my boy onto this

£15 a month too from viovet so worked out good value for money and cheaper than NAF superflex which is been using before and turned out to be if no use anyway.
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I assume you feed two scoops a day of this? As one scoop does not provide the recommended 10:10:4, and I've no idea how much 1g of green lipped mussel translates to in terms of actual chondroitin if that makes sense?

Should add, I think the above has come across as snooty/rude, that's not my intention!
 
Vallin no it does not come across as rude

I feed 1 scoop , I found maxaflex has the closest to the recommended amount, out of all the other main brands in the market, that's why I use it. I did find out how much the green lipped muscle equated to when I was looking at them all but I can't remember now,

Anyhow it's not that difficult to do so have a go yourself, took me a few hours and maxaflex for me came out the best , there was another one that pipped it but cost wise for me it was way out of the question, unfortunately I can't remember it's name
 
From the website in 1scopp maxaflex contain 1g green lipped mussels, 6g glucosamine, and 6g MSM so to get the recommended 4:10:10 you would need to feed 2scoops a day, working out at £2 per day.

Reaflex mcompleqte contains 10:10:4 in 2.5 scoops which works out as £1.40 per day

Suppleaze gold contains 5.5g glucosamine, 2g chondroitin, and 2.5g MSM. Ignoring low levels of MSM you'd need to feed 2scoops a day to get the recommended levels, which works out at £0.85 if you buy a 1.5 kg tub. If you add equine America pure MSM to get correct leves + £0.22 =£1.07

Brief analysis suggests supple adze gold plus pure MSM to be cheapest...
 
If anyone comes across what's in fortius jointFX I'd be interested to work that's one out bout can't find the active ingredients
 
Well that's the thing, actual take up could be zero for everything ;). That's about what I worked out the suppleeaze to be iirc. I did think it made a difference initially tbf but not totally convinced!
 
ester said:
Well that's the thing, actual take up could be zero for everything ;). That's about what I worked out the suppleeaze to be iirc. I did think it made a difference initially tbf but not totally convinced!
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Haha, pretty sure it's all very expensive poo, would just like to make it marginally less expensive :p that's mainly where the problem is though which is why I've been feeding corralled as smaller molecules = easier absorption, but am thinking I should probs start feeding something that ip actually know what it has in :p lus would prefer to feed something that doesn't get half it's ingredients from a mammalian source if possible, though I hear synthetic sources aren't as easily absorbed... *headesk*
 
I feed riaflex complete as it meets the advised levels in the thread mentioned earlier and is simple no faffing just scoop it in!

I couldn't tell you whether it works or not as I use it as a preventative rather than to help with an existing condition. I use it on my 2 mares (rising 9 and rising 10) who will hopefully be eventing all season. They eat it with no probs so no concerns on that front.
 
Oh ester thats awful, particularly when you had been actively working to prevent issues! I use a joint supplement because I don't see how it could hurt, and hopefully might help a bit with wear and tear but obviously it doesn't always help :(
 
We've used the feedmark one with rosehips in before, but I'd be interested to know which is the best one that is also suitable for herbivores, I'm not keen on feeding my horse mussels or cod liver oil :o
 
riaflex is free of animal products you're looking for a herbivor-suitable product, go with that. The rest all contain mammalian based chondroitin (at least) as fa as I can tell
 
Ive been using Grand Meadows Synergy HA, im not that clever but been told its high in everything and also had some very good reports from people i know personally who use it. I feed it as a preventative so cant say if its actually working though
 
Stencilface said:
We've used the feedmark one with rosehips in before, but I'd be interested to know which is the best one that is also suitable for herbivores, I'm not keen on feeding my horse mussels or cod liver oil :o
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In 2 scoops of Feedmark ExtraFlex HA is the recommended amount of MSN and glucosamine, but only 1/4 of the amount of chondroitin. Ignoring the lack of chondroitin it works out at £1.50 per day. To get the recommended amount of chondroitin it works out at £6 per day.

If I were you I'd switch to riaflex as is cheaper and non-animal based products, containing active ingredients at the recommended dose. Should clarify that I do not work for the company and I personally am looking at buying suppleaze gold + MSM as is cheaper and synthetic chondroitin supposedly isnt absorbed as well. Though still not 100% decided!
 
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Escada2004 said:
Ive been using Grand Meadows Synergy HA, im not that clever but been told its high in everything and also had some very good reports from people i know personally who use it. I feed it as a preventative so cant say if its actually working though
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Can't find any information about what is actually in the Grand Meadows so no idea how much it works out for the recommended amounts
 
Two of mine are currently on cortaflex, but I feel ripped off by it every time so I've been reading this thread with interest.

My own riding mare I give Devil's relief to as well as cortaflex, she's older and had a hard life and its been so cold and/or wet, I know I feel it in weather like this, I imagine she does too though she's a stoic soul and given no sign of it, I just thought it might help her

So, I don't think I will be renewing the cortaflex, but am not sure what to replace it with, prob will keep the mare on devil's relief til the nice weather comes in, recently I've been considered Turmeric, what's everyone's views on that?
 
Thanks for that, that's really interesting. Have you decided which one your going to try yet? I think I will probably change what I give her once this pot is finished.
 
arthriaid is bas just glucosamine then, told you the suppleaze worked out best ;).

becca he did have other issues too (it was all foot related) but I decided for a few reasons it wasn't worth bothering.
 
skint1 said:
Two of mine are currently on cortaflex, but I feel ripped off by it every time so I've been reading this thread with interest.

My own riding mare I give Devil's relief to as well as cortaflex, she's older and had a hard life and its been so cold and/or wet, I know I feel it in weather like this, I imagine she does too though she's a stoic soul and given no sign of it, I just thought it might help her

So, I don't think I will be renewing the cortaflex, but am not sure what to replace it with, prob will keep the mare on devil's relief til the nice weather comes in, recently I've been considered Turmeric, what's everyone's views on that?
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Having just done a (very) quick google search regarding the use of tumeric, there does seem to be some scientific backing for it's use in arthritis as an antiinflamatory and to help prevent bone reabsorbtion. HOWEVER only specific compounds within the tumeric have this effect and others (also found in bog standard tumeric) may inhibit this effect. I think Curcumin is the active ingredient you're after. WARNING tumeric can also have a blood thinning effect so not 100% sure I'd like to use it without a vets OK
 
ester said:
arthriaid is bas just glucosamine then, told you the suppleaze worked out best ;).
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haha, indeed. Am just interested in what's about, and how much of it is complete carp ;) Would be interested to discuss the use of tumeric with a vet though as that seems promising but wouldn't use it without due to blood thinning properties.

And the problem is, studies like this seem positive, but they're so full of potential experimenter bias I don't believe a word of their results!
http://www.allnaturalpetcare.com/Holistic_Pet_Remedies/Natural_Therapy_Equine_Osteoarthritis.pdf
 
Have put the information from this thread into a spreadhseet on my blog to make it a bit easier to interpret and will update with other joint supplements as I come across them. http://vallin-photography.com/blog/pricey-poo/ Click the link, scroll to near the bottom, click the link 'Joint Supplements - How expensive is your horse's poo?' and click file to download :)
 
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