Glucosamine & Chondroitin Tablets

Winners Explained

Both Glucosamine and (to a lesser extent) Chondroitin have strong supportive evidence of being beneficial in helping support joint health by improving flexibility and mobility of joints and reducing stiffness and resulting discomfort, particularly in the morning.

 

Joint stiffness is a very common problem as we age; many people over the age of forty may find Glucosamine and Chondroitin of benefit. Recent research has confirmed that the gold standard levels of these nutrients which are likely to deliver benefits particularly in the shorter term are: 1500mg of Glucosamine Sulphate or Hydrochloride, and 1200mg of Chondroitin Sulphate. Lower levels than this may still provide benefit, but the likelihood is less and the time taken for benefits to be seen may be extended. 

 

Tablets provide the most common dosage form of these nutrients, although liquid products offer a viable alternative.

   

 

Quality

Many of the tablets in this category were similar in specification, with most providing between 375mg and 500mg Glucosamine Sulphate / Hydrochloride and 400mg Chondroitin Sulphate. As such, the likelihood of the products delivering the intended benefits was as much down to the recommended dosage as to the tablet content. Those products providing marginally less than the 1500mg and 1200mg Glucosamine and Chondroitin are likely to take longer to deliver the intended benefit, but are products of high quality nonetheless.

 

Of those reviewed here, products from Aliment, Healthspan and Solgar provide the SC Benchmark guideline of 2700mg combined Glucosamine and Chondroitin under their recommended dosage of 3 tablets per day. These products are the best suited to deliver the full spectrum of intended benefits from supplementation of these two nutrients.

 

The products from Holland and Barrett and Lloyds Pharmacy are also worth a look.    

The products from Boots and Health Perception would also be category winners if the dosage was up to 3 tablets per day, rather than 2 tablets per day. 

 

Value range

This is based on the cost of 2700mg of the combination of Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Of the products reviewed here, the range varied from £0.35 to £1.40 per 2700mg Glucosamine / Chondroitin provided.