Cosequin
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Cosequin_Logo_with_Joint_Health_Supplements_tagline_%28Blue%29.png/220px-Cosequin_Logo_with_Joint_Health_Supplements_tagline_%28Blue%29.png)
Cosequin is a patented, registered trademark of a nutritional supplement for animals.
It is manufactured in the United States by Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc.
Cosequin® contains TRH122® chondroitin sulfate, FCHG49® glucosamine and manganese ascorbate. Cosequin has products for cats, dogs, and horses.[1]
Cosequin is destined to support pets health of joints, particularly to maintain the structure of the articular cartilage. It is meant to improve healing of articular cartilage, while inhibiting the enzymes that break down cartilage.[1] Articular cartilage may be diminished for example with age, disease, or trauma.[2]
By the manufacturer and some experimental evidence, Cosequin may be useful for pets with osteoarthritis (OA), but the efficacy is still slightly controversial.[3][2]
Articular cartilage
Articular cartilage|hyaline cartilage is a slippery, resilient tissue on the articular surfaces of bones. Cartilage lies inside the joint cavity of synovial joints and is surrounded by synovial fluid, which is produced by the synovial membrane, which lines the walls of the joint cavity.
Articular cartilage’s, function is to take compression and shocks in the joint and allow joint to move flexible and without friction.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in articular cartilage
Chondrocytes produce and maintain cartilage, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans. Cartilage cells use glucosamine to produce glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and hyaluronan|hyaluronic acid. Cartilage in joints lacks blood supply and nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate must come from surrounding tissue or synovial fluid. Cartilage can break down as among other things after age and injury. Over-activity and overweight, speeds up the process.
Glucosamine also has mild anti-inflammatory effects due to its ability to catch free radicals.[2] Synovial fluid also contains glucosamine.
Chondrocytes normally produce plenty of glucosamines from glucose and amino acids, but this may diminish with age, disease, surgery, or trauma. Dietary given glucosamine appear be utilized by chondrocytes.[2]
Chonroitin is also a part of cartilage. It is made by body, and it helps cartilage retain water, and it also has mild anti-inflammatory activity.[4]
Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), which is a long chain of sugars. Chondroitin sulfate is an important structural component of cartilage and it provides much of its resistance to compression.
Glucosamine and chondroitin combination in osteoarthritis
The biochemical breakdown of the articular cartilage results in osteoarthritis.[4]
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are considered nutritional supplements by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[5]
Along with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate has become a widely used dietary supplement for treatment of osteoarthritis.[2][4][6] Some studies show some efficacy of glucosamine supplement with chondroitin for osteoarthritis pain, while other studies do not. Also, some evidence of structural repair of joints of animals treated with glucosamine can be seen, but more research was called after in year 2011 to confirm these models in human.[7]
In 2016 European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspect of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) recommended though glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate as early first-line therapy for knee osteoarthritis. To them, that treatment may delay joint structural changes, need of analgesia and need for total joint replacement for at least 5 years.[8][9][10]
Glucosamine is used in equine medicine, but evidence is rather poor that it has value in treatment of horses’ joint disease.[11]
Treatment of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)
Glycosaminoglycans are parts of the protective layer of the urinary tract. Controlled studies have shown some positive effects of some cats suffering of lower urinary tract disease. Effect is however not very clear.[2]
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacokinetic studies have produced conflicting results depending on formulation of the product, assay technique and species studied. There is wide variation between products. With oral absorption, bioavailability in horses for chondroitin sulfate is about 22─32 %, glucosamine about 2%. In dogs bioavailability is reported about 5% for chondroitin sulfate and 12% for glucosamine.[3][2]
Conclusion
Cosequin can be considered as support for your pet’s joints and cartilage when you notice changes in the animal. These changes can be rather moderate, like being less active, having some difficulties getting up and down on stairs, seeming to be stiff or uncomfortable when getting up or down, decreasing interest in surrounding environment. Also younger dog can have joint health problems. Large breeds, overweight and working dogs have a risk of having cartilage problems because cartilage get more stress than in normal situations. Cosequin can also be taken into account of cases after surgery, where it helps joint cartilage to recover. Cosequin can be also be taken as a prophylactic. When dog ages its body functions slow down and it is common for their joints to become less flexible which impacts their mobility and quality of life.
These products are very well tolerated in cats, dogs and horses also in long-term. As adverse effects can be named minor gastrointestinal effects, like stool softening and flatulence. No studies on the safety of these compounds in pregnant or lactating animals have been performed.[2]
These products are hard to evaluate because different salt forms, lack of standards, different manufacturers, compositions, regimens, therapy durations, combinations of active ingredients and so on.[12]
Because some studies report positive effect and others do not, there isn’t a mutual understanding about the efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate around the world.
Nevertheless glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are commonly recommended by veterinarians as treatment for osteoarthritis in canines. The clinical benefit of using these agents remains questionable. Further study is required in order to clarify the uncertainty.[12
References
- ^ a b "about cosequin".
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(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h "Plumb's Veterinary Drugs". www.plumbsveterinarydrugs.com. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
- ^ a b Papich, Mark (2016). Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs. pp. 156–158. ISBN 9780323244855.
- ^ a b c "Glucosamine and Chrondroitin for Arthritis". arthritis.org. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
- ^ “Dietary Supplements” . U.S.Food and Drug Administration.
- ^ &NA; (February 2010). "National Library of Medicine Launches Mobile MedlinePlus". Oncology Times. 32 (4): 37. doi:10.1097/01.cot.0000368861.75812.25. ISSN 0276-2234.
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: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Chan, Karly Oi Wan; Ng, Gabriel Yin Fat (December 2011). "A review on the effects of glucosamine for knee osteoarthritis based on human and animal studies". Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal. 29 (2): 42–52. doi:10.1016/j.hkpj.2011.06.004. ISSN 1013-7025.
- ^ Bruyère, Olivier; Altman, Roy D.; Reginster, Jean-Yves (February 2016). "Efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate in the management of osteoarthritis: Evidence from real-life setting trials and surveys". Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 45 (4): S12–S17. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2015.11.011. ISSN 0049-0172.
- ^ Giordano, Nicola; Fioravanti, Antonella; Papakostas, Panagiotis; Montella, Antonio; Giorgi, Giorgio; Nuti, Ranuccio (June 2009). "The efficacy and tolerability of glucosamine sulfate in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial". Current Therapeutic Research. 70 (3): 185–196. doi:10.1016/j.curtheres.2009.05.004. ISSN 0011-393X.
- ^ Das, A; Hammad, T.A (September 2000). "Efficacy of a combination of FCHG49™ glucosamine hydrochloride, TRH122™ low molecular weight sodium chondroitin sulfate and manganese ascorbate* in the management of knee osteoarthritis". Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 8 (5): 343–350. doi:10.1053/joca.1999.0308. ISSN 1063-4584.
- ^ PEARSON, W.; LINDINGER, M. (September 2009). "Low quality of evidence for glucosamine-based nutraceuticals in equine joint disease: Review of in vivo studies". Equine Veterinary Journal. 41 (7): 706–712. doi:10.2746/042516409x424153. ISSN 0425-1644.