WHAT IS GLUCOSAMINE AND HOW DOES IT WORK?Healthy cartilage needs three things: water for lubrication and nourishment, proteoglycans to attract and hold the water and collagen to keep the proteoglycans in place. Glucosamine is a major building block of the water—loving proteoglycans.Proteoglycans are like a rope that threads itself through collagen, which both lubricates and nourishes. If cartilage is damaged, the thread of rope becomes weak and “leaks” out and thus the collagen loses its nourishment as the proteoglycans lose their grip and float away. Thus the cartilage cannot withstand shocks, cracks and may wear out completely.CHONDROITIN SULPHATE:Where glucosamine helps form the proteoglycans that sit within the space in the cartilage, chondroitin sulphate acts like “liquid magnets”. Chondroitin is a long chain of repeating nigans that attracts fluid into the proteoglycan molecules. This is important for two reasons. 1.) The fluid acts as a spongy shock absorber, sweeping nutrients into the cartilage. Joint cartilage has no blood supply thus all of its nourishment and lubrication comes from the fluid that ebbs and flows as pressure is applied and released to the joint. 2.) Without this fluid, cartilage would become malnourished, drier, thinner and more fragile.HOW CHONDROITIN SULPHATE WORKS:Chondroitin Sulphate is a long chain molecule with a negative charge attached to it. As these chains wrap around proteoglycans they repel each other and thus create spaces between each proteoglycan. These are what are known as matrixes within the cartilage and this is where the fluid flows. There may be as many as 10,000 of these chains on a single proteoglycan molecule—thus we have a super water retainer as these chains make sure all of the molecules are away from each other.MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane):MSM is a naturally occurring nutrient and sulfur compound. Sulfur is a component of bones, teeth and collagen (the protein in connective tissue). The mineral sulfur is needed for the manufacture of many proteins, including those forming hair, muscles, and skin. HYALURONIC ACID: Hyaluronic Acid is plentiful in our bodies when we are born, but its levels gradually recede over time. Hyaluronic Acid occurs in the deeper layers of our skin known as the dermis and it appears to help keep the skin smooth because of its water retention qualities. Hyaluronic Acid also effectively helps repair skin wounds.Hyaluronic acid’s function is to cushion and lubricate. Hyaluronan occurs throughout the body in abundant amounts in many of the places people with hereditary connective tissue disorders have problems such as joints, heart valves and eyes. Hyaluronic acid abnormalities are a common thread in connective tissue disorders. Interestingly, they are also common biochemical anomalies in most of the individual features of connective tissue disorders such as mitral valve prolapse, TMJ, osteoarthritis and keratoconus. BOSWELLIA EXTRACT: Boswellia serrata (Sallai Guggal) is an ancient sap-producing tree that is grown throughout Western and Central China. When the tree trunk is tapped, a gummy oleoresin is exuded. A purified extract of this resin is used in modern herbal preparations. The active compound in boswellia sap is boswellic acid. The Boswellia is standardised to contain 65% of boswellic acids. Boswellia is part of a long herbal tradition for joint care.VITAMIN D3: Known as the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D3 can be found in small amounts in a few foods, including fatty fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines and tuna. To make Vitamin D more available, it is added to dairy products, juices, and cereals. But most Vitamin D (80% to 90% of what the body gets) is obtained through exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D regulates calcium, and is important for bone mineralization and bone homeostasis.