Now Foods Vegetarian Glucosamine

Glucosamine is an essential substrate for the formation of glycoaminoglycans (GAG's) and proteoglycans, which are the main components of cartilage tissue. GAG's and proteoglycans trap and hold water, forming a dense fluid cushion within the joint and thus, provide lubrication and shock absorption. MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is a natural source of organic sulfur, a mineral necessary for the production of proteoglycans. NOW unique and synergistic formula is suitable for vegetarians, because it contains only Glucosamine from a vegetarian source and not from shellfish.

What is glucosamine?
Glucosamine is derived from glucose and glutamine (an amino acid). It is used to produce substances in the body that attract and bind water into tissues, making them more resilient. It is especially important to maintain properly functioning joint structures.

How is glucosamine manufactured?
Glucosamine is produced by removing the proteins and minerals from the shells of shrimp and crab. This is done primarily in China, with some coming from other Asian countries, including Thailand and Malaysia. NOW has developed the Official AOAC Method for testing glucosamine and has used this method for the past five years.

What is the source of NOW's Chondroitin?
NOW's Chondroitin is derived from bovine tissue from cattle. As with all of our raw materials, we screen Chondroitin very carefully for the presence of any undesirable microbes. NOW’s state-of-the-art analytical lab has developed a method of testing chondroitin, which is currently being verified by independent labs around the world and is expected to become an Official Method used to test all products containing chondroitin sulfate.

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a major component of our cartilage that helps cushion our joints. It is believed to provide structure, hold water and nutrients, and promote elasticity in cartilage. It also appears to inhibit the enzymes that can destroy cartilage tissue. These properties have made Chondroitin Sulfate a popular dietary supplement for people seeking to nourish their joint tissues. Chondroitin is marketed alone or in combination with other joint supplements, usually with Glucosamine (another compound believed key to cartilage formation and repair).1,2

A significant source of Chondroitin sulfate is animal cartilage. The major commercially available source is bovine (cow). Only bovine sources are used in NOW products because the clinical studies on effectiveness of chondroitin are based on bovine material. Other animal sources are also available from porcine (pork), chicken and shark. The finite source of raw materials, coupled with the recent interest in finding natural substances to aid in the maintenance of joint health, has created a significant demand that affects the availability of CS. NOW Foods has been facing the challenge of not only finding material that meets our strict specifications, but is also reasonably priced.

NOW has obtained supplies of Chondroitin sulfate from various sources. NOW's Quality Control Group analyses samples from these sources. Quality Control determines the percentage of Chondroitin sulfate present. Results obtained ranged from as little as 2.7% to greater than 90%, with everything in-between. NOW scientists use HPLC instrumentation to qualify raw materials, allowing for much tighter controls on the materials purchased. This enables NOW to ensure that NOW’s CS products are of the highest quality.

NOW's Mission
The NOW mission is - To provide value in products and services:" ":supplement industry in its infancy, entrepreneur Paul Richard paid $900 for the purchase of Fearn Soya Foods—a Chicago based manufacturer of grain and legume-based products. This began a six-decade legacy of providing health-seeking consumers with high-quality, affordable nutrition products.

History of NOW
In 1968, NOW Foods was founded under the belief that good health was not a luxury available only to the wealthy. For the past forty years, NOW has made it their life's work to offer health food and nutritional supplements of the highest quality, at prices that are fair and affordable to all those who seek them. Today, NOW Foods is one of the top-selling brands in health foods stores, an award-winning manufacturer, a respected advocate of the natural product industry, and a leader in the fields of nutritional science and methods development. And while NOW has grown considerably over the past four decades, one thing has never changed – NOW's commitment to providing products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.

NOW Commitments

• Customer Focused and Information Driven - NOW believes that their products, services, and the decisions they make should be primarily influenced by the desires and needs of NOW customers. The decisions that NOW makes should be based on accurate information and therefore NOW places a high value on knowledge and learning within their organization.
• Quality and Value Oriented - Acting in the best interest of NOW customers, NOW endeavors to produce the highest quality products at competitive prices. NOW's first priority is to maintain quality where it counts the most – in the products. NOW's exceptional cost-conscious team of employees then focuses their energies on driving costs down. Nurturing this competency of value drives NOW's ability to provide high quality products at the very best prices.
• Natural is Better - NOW is convinced that natural products are better than their synthetic counterparts and produce better results in human health. Therefore, wherever possible, NOW strives to provide products that contain natural ingredients because they are better for their customers.

NOW Science
NOW's experienced professional and technical staff formulates their products to be of the highest quality. NOW has a group of biochemists, chemists, nutritionists, and food technologists who review current science and nutritional parameters, and formulate our products to be effective for the intended use. NOW's structure/function claims are based on science for active ingredients, and on nutritional science for nutritional content. Serving sizes are based on doses from clinical studies and other published data. NOW's contemporary formulas are designed to meet the health and wellness needs of today’s consumers. NOW uses ingredients that have been tested for effectiveness in clinical trials and laboratory studies. The heart of NOW science is third party independent research. NOW investigates and review clinical studies and other lab studies conducted on their ingredients and their formulas. Best science is used to support best formulations which lead to best quality. NOW products are constantly being tested in clinical trials conducted at top universities and research centers around the country and in various parts of the world. NOW products are being tested to determine such things as effectiveness for joint support, quality of life for cancer patients, cardiovascular support, and athletic endurance. Effective products mean health and wellness benefits, which mean quality.

GMP Quality Assured
NOW’s GMP certification covers standard operating procedures, employee training, pr:" ":incoming materials according to NOW Foods specifications, inspecting manufacturing processes, and testing finished products to specifications. Tests include organoleptic evaluation (human senses such as sight, taste, smell), physical testing of tablets and capsules, chemical identity of ingredients, potency and contamination testing by the company’s in-house state-of-the-art analytical testing lab, as well as microbiological testing by NOW Foods’ in-house rapid analysis microbiological lab.