People are frequently questioning the quality of animal-based supplements and wondering if there are better alternatives, reports Antoine Vanhove, Product Manager at Gnosis by Lesaffre.
Take chondroitin sulfate, for example: this animal-derived ingredient has been a top choice for those seeking to protect their joints for years.
The global chondroitin market size netted approximately $1.28 billion in sales in 2023 — a sizeable share of the total $4.42 billion joint health supplement market.1
Chondroitin sulfate, a component in human cartilage, bone and connective tissues, attracts water to the cartilage, offers shock absorption and inhibits enzymes that degrade cartilage.
This is why chondroitin supplements have been and remain a popular ingredient in many joint health supplements.
However, there is a challenge inherent in the conventional chondroitin ingredients that have been on the market for decades: limited bioavailability.
Additionally, there are rising concerns about the safety and purity of animal-derived chondroitin, be it avian, bovine, porcine or marine (shark).
Animal-origin chondroitin has a highly variable (inconsistent) structure and poor batch-to-batch reproducibility. Additionally, animal-origin materials may compromise safety with the potential presence of transmissible infectious agents (such as viruses and prions).
Thanks to a novel fermentation process utilising micro-organisms, Gnosis by Lesaffre offers a genuine non-animal chondroitin sulfate with a prevalence for sulfation at carbon 6, which is the closest possible to human chondroitin sulfate.
This innovation, called MyCondro™, provides several distinct advantages and benefits for the consumer.
Low molecular weight: Fermented chondroitin has a low molecular weight of 9 kDa (closer to human), which enhances bioavailability. Two pharmacokinetic studies comparing the fermented chondroitin to bovine chondroitin sulfate confirmed superior bioavailability (+45% after 48 hours).
Batch consistency: Animal-derived chondroitin is subject to naturally occurring constitutional differentiation between individuals within the same species (such as bovine), which affects batch-to-batch consistency.
However, the fermentation process yields a homogeneous profile with low polydispersity; that is, more assured batch-to-batch consistency.
Better safety profile: Fermented chondroitin has an excellent safety profile, as there are no concerns about the transmission of viruses or prions that may be present in animal material.
The fermentation process results in a high-purity (safe) chondroitin sulfate.
Sustainable: The origin materials — micro-organisms — are exceptionally abundant and reproducible, making the ingredient sustainable.
Higher purity: The novel fermentation process results in a chondroitin sodium sulfate content of >95%, which is greater than the USP standard (90%).
Clinically validated at a lower dosage: Two human studies have demonstrated that fermentation-derived chondroitin sulfate (MyCondro) provides clear benefits for joint function at half the dose of conventional animal-sourced chondroitin.
Participants with moderate knee osteoarthritis were supplemented with either fermented chondroitin or a placebo for 3 months and assessed with the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) score and TLKS (Tegner Lysholm Knee Score).
Additionally, inflammation was tested by measuring the proinflammatory markers CRP and ESR.
Results showed that those in the supplement group had significantly reduced WOMAC scores by 19% compared with an increase of 8% in the placebo group, and a 14% increase in TLKS score compared with a 2% reduction in the placebo group.
Further, CRP and ESR measurements were significantly reduced in the supplement group.2
A subsequent study confirmed these results: in this trial, obese adults with moderate knee osteoarthritis recorded improved knee function, comfort and reduced inflammation in only 2 months based on decreased WOMAC scores and reduced CRP plasma levels.3
These two clinical studies demonstrate the efficacy of fermented chondroitin at a low dose of 600 mg/day, compared with the standard 800–1200 mg/day for animal-derived chondroitin.
References
- https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/chondroitin-market
- M. Rondanelli, et al., Nutrients 11(9), 2027 (2019).
- M. Rondanelli, et al., Antioxidants (Basel) 9(12), 1241 (2020).