Four Important Ingredients to Keep Your Horse’s Joints Healthy

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Text-only version of “Four Important Ingredients to Keep Your Horse’s Joints Healthy”

In healthy joints, the ends of the bones are coated with a thin layer of friction-reducing tissue known as articular cartilage.

The articular cartilage contains synovial ­fluid, a thick liquid that serves two primary functions:

1. A source of nutrients for the articular cartilage
2. A lubricant and shock absorber for the bones that form a joint.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an integral component of synovial fluid and articular cartilage and is responsible for lubrication of the joint surfaces.

While glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate work mainly on the cartilage, HA is more beneficial to the joint fluid.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate

Glucosamine is used as a substrate for certain components of the cartilage matrix.

Chondroitin sulfate plays an important role in controlling the enzymes associated with inflammation and tissue destruction.

Numerous studies have shown these ingredients complement each other in inhibiting the production of inflammatory cells.

Interestingly, when chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine were used independently of each other, they did not show similar benefits.

Orth et al., 2002; Schlueter et al., 2004; Dechant et al., 2005).

Manganese Sulfate

Manganese is an important component of the cartilage matrix and is essential for the growth of healthy connective tissue.

Joint Armor™

A scientifically formulated combination of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, and manganese sulfate, ingredients that help to maintain and support cartilage structure and optimal joint function.

Joint Armor is recommended for:

• Young horses, especially those going into training
• Performance horses and show horses
• Racehorses
• Recreational horses
• Broodmares and stallions
• Seniors
• Horses with a history of joint injury or arthritis