Wednesday, January 6, 2016 - Notwithstanding that here is conflicting evidence regarding the use of glucosamine for the management of osteoarthritis in any species; glucosamine is a common ingredient in oral joint health supplements that are widely administered to horses with osteoarthritis. Their continued and successful use is a testimony to their effectiveness.
In a recent Canadian study by Laverty and colleagues, researchers compared the pharmacologic properties of two different forms of glucosamine--hydrochloride and sulfate. Test horses were administered clinically relevant doses of glucosamine hydrochloride or glucosamine sulfate (20 mg/kg) via nasogastric intubation.
At one and six hours after administration, they found significantly higher levels of glucosamine in synovial fluid samples from horses receiving the oral glucosamine sulfate than in those receiving glucosamine hydrochloride.
Laverty pointed out that it is not clear whether these differences in synovial fluid levels will have a real, clinical impact on horses with osteoarthritis. Further research is required.
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