Glucosamine and Chondroitin now available from
non-animal eco-friendly source
Premium joint care ingredients for the growing vegan and vegetarian market
Background
The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate has been the bedrock of the joint-health market for over 25 years. Countless sports and nutritional supplement companies carry a version of this blend and it’s likely the first formula consumers consider when they are looking for joint health support supplements.
The source of these materials has been primarily the residue of Asian shellfish aquaculture (glucosamine) and bovine cartilage (chondroitin). The inherent limitation of not being suitable for vegetarians and vegans, along with the negative environmental impact of production, have limited the audience for this well-known combination. Ethical Naturals Inc began searching for better alternative sources.
In 2009, Ethical Naturals made a major breakthrough in introducing GreenGrown® Glucosamine produced by fermentation from an eco-friendly, Non-GMO vegetable source. Since then, GreenGrown® Glucosamine has become a core joint-health ingredient for many brands, as a stand-alone, or part of animal-free joint care formulas. But ENI’s search for an acceptable version of the other half of this classic formula was ongoing.
GreenGrown-GCS®
Manufacturing Chondroitin sulfate in commercial quantities through eco-friendly fermentation has been far more complex. It has taken years to develop a consistently reliable product that met Ethical Naturals’ standards, but that search was rewarded: Ethical Naturals now offers the popular glucosamine and chondroitin blend from Non-GMO fermentation sources.
GreenGrown-GCS® Vegetable Source Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Sulfate Provides a Clean, Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Animal
Source Ingredients
The formula
The GreenGrown-GCS® formula contains 66.20% Glucosamine HCl and 33.80 % Chondroitin Sulfate. This ratio is ideal for manufacturing a ‘00’ capsule containing 500mg of Glucosamine and 220mg of Chondroitin.
The percentage of chondroitin is lower than in traditional animal derived formulas because it utilizes high-purity fermented chondroitin sulfate, which clinical research demonstrates has higher bioavailability [1-2].
Specifically, studies reported that non-animal chondroitin derived through fermentation achieves approximately 43% higher bioavailability (demonstrated via greater plasma exposure and a more prolonged pharmacokinetic profile) compared to animal-source chondroitin sulfate [1]. The pharmacokinetic advantages are attributed to its controlled fermentation manufacturing process, yielding a lower, more uniform molecular weight profile (compared with the more heterogeneous animal-derived material). As a result, this proprietary blend delivers joint support at a lower input dosage, while offering a 100% vegan, animal free, and allergen-friendly profile.
The vegetable source guarantee
For both glucosamine and chondroitin, basic analytical methods are not accurate enough to distinguish between animal source or vegetable source origin. For this reason, adulteration or cross contamination of sources can easily take place.
ENI’s GreenGrown-GCS® undergoes meticulous in-depth testing to assure that it contains no animal sourced ingredients:
- GreenGrown® Glucosamine is always tested through ENI’s patented Isotopic Signature Carbon Tracing method that detects any non-vegetable ingredients.
- The chondroitin sulfate used in GreenGrown-GCS® is tested by an Enzymatic-HPLC method that detects any A-Type chondroitin components. Fermentation chondroitin contains no A-type structure (or <1%) while animal-source chondroitin contains significant A-type components.
Growing vegetarian demand continues to trend upwards
Today in the U.S., 35% of supplement users say that a vegetarian source is important when choosing a supplement. These vegetarian-aware consumers tend to buy 3 times more supplements than other shoppers, and their purchasing patterns demonstrate brand loyalty. GreenGrown-GCS® speaks to this loyal customer base.
Kosher and Halal Certification
Animal derived glucosamine and chondroitin are difficult to certify as kosher because most commercial sources come from non kosher species or materials not processed under kosher or halal supervision. Our formula uses fermented glucosamine and fermented chondroitin, which are produced through controlled microbial fermentation—fully traceable, non animal, and consistently compliant with kosher, halal and vegan standards.
GreenGrown-GCS® is available either in bulk or in veggie capsules containing 500mg of glucosamine and 220mg of chondroitin.
[1] Volpi, N., et al.(2019). Oral Bioavailability and Pharmacokinetics of Nonanimal Chondroitin Sulfate and Its Constituents in Healthy Male Volunteers. Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development, 2019, Vol. 8(3), pp. 336–345. DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.587
[2] Rondanelli, M., et al. (2019). Effectiveness of non-animal chondroitin sulfate supplementation in the treatment of moderate knee osteoarthritis in a group of overweight subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Nutrients, 11(9). 2027; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092027