Non-animal source Chondroitin?
 

Does anyone know of one? I use non-animal source glucosamine and hyaluronic acid (both from Now Foods), but have been unable to find available non-animal source chondroitin. It does exist, since studies have been done using that form, but I can't find a commercial source.

edit: to be perfectly clear--non-shark, non-bovine, non-chicken

What about these?.

http://www.nutritioncentre.co.uk/c/6...yCategory.html

http://www.nextag.com/vegetarian-glu...itin/shop-html

Try www.vegetarianvitamin.com

http://www.gvtc.co.uk/deva/glucosaminemsmcmo.html

No, sorry, none of those have vegetarian chondroitin. It's very misleading, because they promote the vegetarian glucosamine and the veggie capsule, but the chondroitin is not vegetarian. One of the brands does not specifically state which source they use for the chondroitin, so I'll contact them directly and try to find out.

Why on earth these manufacturers put animal-based supplements into a veggie-cap is beyond me. Unless it's to mislead the consumer, because it does cause their product to turn up on a Google search for "vegetarian chondroitin". Only because the capsule is vegetarian. The chondroitin is not. :(

But thank you.

The one product that seemed most likely to be vegetarian was the "Nature's Answer", in the second link above. As I suspected, it's only the capsule that is vegetarian. The glucosamine is from shellfish, and the chondroitin is probably shark cartilage or bovine trachea. Here's the answer from a commenter on a seller's website:

"After having some confusion over whether this product is vegetarian in content or in capsule material, I called the company and they stated that the capsule ONLY is vegetarian and DOES contain shellfish!!.There needs to be more info on the source of the glucosamine , especially since alot to people are allergic.I have had alot of troubel getting info on whether or not shellfish is in any product. So be careful. This product label needs some revision........................."

At least I can get reliably animal-free glucosamine and hyaluronic acid.

You got a study by someone that's not selling it that says it does anything, when administered without glucosamine?

I have seen abstracts for peer-reviewed research studies which tested it alone (I'll try to find you some links), but that isn't relevant to me since I do take glucosamine and hyaluronic acid already. Chondroitin is the only one of those three that I can't find commercially available in non-animal form.

edit: here is a good synopsis from University of Maryland Medical Center, with a long list of peer-reviewed journal articles at the end. Nobody there is selling anything. Bottom line, as for glucosamine or virtually any nutraceutical supplement, is that there are conflicting results. Some studies show a positive, statistically significant benefit, some don't.

I think you are going to have a tough time finding a vegan source of chondroitin, since it is found the cartilage of animals. The internet suggests that algae might also contain it, but didn't indicate if any real chondroitin products have been made from it.

It seems that you will either have to compromise your principles to take chondroitin, or not take it, currently. :(

The same used to be true of glucosamine supplements, they were all from shellfish. Eventually there will be non-animal sources for chondroitin, if there aren't already. Studies have used it, so it must exist. If not commercially available yet, it will be. I'll wait.

replying to old thread
 

A Singaporean friend just introduced me to his local source glucosamine and chondroitin product (plus four other ingredients) called 'Power-Joint Pro' by Millenia Herbs. He kindly offered me a bottle. I had to decline after I verified that Chondroitin is non-veg. We will go take a look in geylang shops to see if something is available now that *is* veg but I doubt we will be successful. When I get back to Canada I will investigate further. If I find a source of vegan or even vegeatarian chondroitin I will share my findings in this thread.

I don't mind compromising my lacto-vegetarian diet with seafood for medical necessity but beef (the source of chondroitin, it's from cows' trachea!) is on my 'no-go' list for religious/ethical/sentimental/discipline/habit/elitist differentiation reasons. I still have a touch of Brahminical yoga in my blood that as much as I would like to shake cannot. For me there are very few true sins - consuming beef or byproducts of cows is one of them. Not quite up there with financial crimes like stock market fraud of course. Clearly there is a huge market of similar-minded people, especially in India, which is where I will concentrate my research, as even if it IS expensive relative to the local market, to most Canadians etc it will be affordable.

According to my googling although algae is a possible source manufacturing of it into a chondroitin supplement has been abandoned for reasons of it not being commercially viable, i.e. few would pay the high price to extract, process, package etc.

I agree with the OP that the marketing of 'vegetarian' can be misleading. One must read labels with a discerning eye.