GNC Triflex Vitapak....has any forummer tried it?

[lifeafter41]

Lately really bothered by knee pain. Tried blackmores advanced type for the knee don't seems to work. Read that the gnc Triflex Vitapak seems pretty good. Has anybody tried it? Has it work for you? Thanks!!

 

[Froggy]

This is actually very good

 

[lifeafter41]

This is actually very good

Hi froggy, thanks..... I have tried this before, did not seems to work for me. Maybe should try it for a longer time. Did it work for you?

 

[looneytan]

 

[Froggy]

Hi froggy, thanks..... I have tried this before, did not seems to work for me. Maybe should try it for a longer time. Did it work for you?

I don't need for now but I have gout problem. Reason I suggested this is because a dew of my immediate family members use this, long term, found to be good. In Thailand costs only 980 baht ($39) in Singapore heard its like bloody $70 so I buy lots for them whenever they run out.

 

[lifeafter41]

I don't need for now but I have gout problem. Reason I suggested this is because a dew of my immediate family members use this, long term, found to be good. In Thailand costs only 980 baht ($39) in Singapore heard its like bloody $70 so I buy lots for them whenever they run out.

I plan to try the triflex vitapak, understand there is a total of 8 capsules per pack. Per box, it's good for 1 month, ie, 30packs inside.
Read on the review seems pretty effective.
Going to gnc to buy it later.

 

[lifeafter41]

I don't need for now but I have gout problem. Reason I suggested this is because a dew of my immediate family members use this, long term, found to be good. In Thailand costs only 980 baht ($39) in Singapore heard its like bloody $70 so I buy lots for them whenever they run out.

How long you have this problem of gout, I have a friend that has it. Seems pretty often it will act up. Could be due to the diet and food you are taking.

 

[Leongsam]

Don't waste your money. Double blind tests show NO benefits whatsoever.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15478160

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled glucosamine discontinuation trial in knee osteoarthritis.

Cibere J1, Kopec JA, Thorne A, Singer J, Canvin J, Robinson DB, Pope J, Hong P, Grant E, Esdaile JM.
Author information



Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of glucosamine sulfate in knee osteoarthritis (OA).
METHODS:

A 4-center, 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled glucosamine discontinuation trial was conducted in 137 current users of glucosamine with knee OA who had experienced at least moderate improvement in knee pain after starting glucosamine. Study medication dosage was equivalent to the dosage of glucosamine taken prior to the study (maximum 1,500 mg/day). Followup continued for 6 months or until disease flare, whichever occurred first. The primary outcome was the proportion of disease flares in the glucosamine and placebo groups using an intent-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included time to disease flare; analgesic medication use; severity of disease flare; and change in pain, stiffness, function and quality of life in the glucosamine and placebo groups.
RESULTS:

Disease flare was seen in 28 (42%) of 66 placebo patients and 32 (45%) of 71 glucosamine patients (difference -3%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] -19, 14; P = 0.76). In the Cox regression analysis, after adjustment for sex, study site, and OA radiographic severity, time to disease flare was not significantly different in the glucosamine compared with placebo group (hazard ratio of flare = 0.8; 95% CI 0.5, 1.4; P = 0.45). At final study visit, acetaminophen was used in 27% and 21% of placebo and glucosamine patients, respectively (P = 0.40), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were used in 29% and 30% (P = 0.92), and both were used in 20% and 21% (P = 0.84). No differences were found in severity of disease flare or other secondary outcomes between placebo and glucosamine patients.
CONCLUSION:

In patients with knee OA with at least moderate subjective improvement with prior glucosamine use, this study provides no evidence of symptomatic benefit from continued use of glucosamine sulfate.

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http://www.npr.org/sections/health-...p-knees-more-than-glucosamine-and-chondroitin

If you're among the estimated 27 million Americans who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, then perhaps you've tried the nutritional supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. They've been marketed for joint health for about 20 years, and sales are still brisk. But do they help?
Some horses might say yes. The supplements were first tried in horses, and there's some evidence that the supplements might improve joint function for them.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are also marketed to dog owners. But what about us humans? Unfortunately, researchers say that for us the results just don't match the glowing testimonials.

It would seem to make sense that glucosamine and chondroitin could help. They're both natural substances found in cartilage, that hard connective tissue that pads joints.

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that may help renew cartilage, and chondroitin sulfate is a complex carbohydrate that is thought to help cartilage retain water. Arthritiscauses pain, swelling and stiffness in joints and damages cartilage over time. So the thought was maybe extra glucosamine and chondroitin could help maintain and even repair the damage.

That was plausible enough for the National Institutes of Health to fund a $12.5 million randomized clinical trial to test the supplements' effectiveness. It assigned 1,583 people around the country to take either glucosamine, chondroitin, a combination of the two, an anti-inflammatory drug (celecoxib) or a placebo. Neither participants nor the researchers knew what they were taking.

The vast majority of patients reported no significant difference in pain relief between glucosamine, chondroitin, a combination of the two and placebo.

In all, 60 percent of patients taking the sugar pill said their pain was reduced by about 20 percent, while 66 percent of those taking the supplements reported similar pain reduction. The results were published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
But for a small subset of patients, those with moderate to severe arthritis pain in a knee, there was some benefit.

"About 79 percent had a 20 percent or greater reduction in pain, compared to about 54 percent for placebo," says Dr. Allen Sawitzke, a rheumatologist at the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics and co-leader of the GAIT study. "So some patients who have severe pain may get more benefit than somebody who's got a mild case."

Because the number of patients in that group was so small, Sawitzke cautions that finding is only preliminary and needs to be confirmed by further study.

Two large studies currently underway, one in Europe and one in Australia, may help answer that question. They're expected to wrap up within one year, which Sawitzke says "will either reopen the debate or put an end to it, depending on the results."

But the findings from the GAIT study were crystal clear, says Dr. David Felson, a rheumatologist at Boston University School of Medicine. There was just no benefit for most patients who took the supplements compared to placebo, "meaning that it didn't relieve pain any better than placebo." The supplements didn't affect structure of the joint (they did X-rays), and it didn't cause any delay in the progression of the disease compared to placebo, he adds. "It basically didn't have any effect."

On the other hand, Felson says he doesn't disabuse patients of the notion that the supplements are helping if patients truly believe they are, even though a month's supply can cost $30 to $50. "Far be it from me to take away either the placebo effect or an idiosyncratic reaction that might be of benefit," he says.

And if taking supplements or a placebo pill make it more likely that people will be active and lose weight, that's a good thing, according to Dr. Patience White, a rheumatologist and spokesperson for The Arthritis Foundation. "My goal as a practicing physician is to decrease pain so patients will actually do the things that really make a difference in terms of changing the natural history of osteoarthritis, which is weight reduction and physical activity," she notes. People have a hard time exercising and losing weight if they hurt.

There's abundant evidence that losing weight and regular exercise are the most effective treatments available for osteoarthritis pain, White adds. "It's quite striking," she says. "If you lose only five pounds, you're talking about the equivalent of 20 pounds [less stress] across those knees, so you can imagine it would make quite a difference."

Pretty much any type of exercise seems to reduce pain and increase flexibility, according to Felson. "There have been a variety of different exercise studies which have tried everything from water aerobics to walking to muscle strengthening, and they all seem to work."

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http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/tc/glucosamine-and-chondroitin-topic-overview


Glucosamine and Chondroitin - Topic Overview

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Guide

• Topic Overview
• Related Information
• References
• Credits

What are glucosamine and chondroitin?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are part of normal cartilage. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones in a joint.
Glucosamine, also called chitosamine, is a natural substance that is found in the covering of shellfish. It is available in different forms, including glucosamine hydrochloride, N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), and glucosamine sulfate, which is a combination of glucosamine and mineral salt. Glucosamine is also available in synthetic forms. The body absorbs glucosamine well.

Chondroitin can come from natural sources, such as shark or bovine cartilage, or it can be made in a lab. Chondroitin is also known as chondroitin sulfate, chondroitin sulfuric acid, and chonsurid. Chondroitin sulfate is a combination of chondroitin and mineral salt.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are available in tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid form and are often taken in combination with each other or in combination with other dietary supplements. Glucosamine may be taken separately as a dietary supplement for joints.

What are glucosamine and chondroitin used for?

Many people take glucosamine and chondroitin, alone or together, for osteoarthritis. Some people believe this helps. But an analysis of studies looking at glucosamine or chondroitin for osteoarthritis in the hip or knee did not show that these supplements slow joint destruction or relieve pain.1

Are glucosamine and chondroitin safe?

It appears that glucosamine and chondroitin, alone or together, are safe and have few side effects. But they cost money and will not help you more than a placebo. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking about taking glucosamine and chondroitin.

If you are allergic to shellfish, do not take glucosamine unless you have talked to your doctor. Some glucosamine is made from shellfish covering.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements in the same way it regulates medicines. A dietary supplement can be sold with limited or no research on how well it works.

Always tell your doctor if you are using a dietary supplement or if you are thinking about combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on a dietary supplement. This is especially important for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
When using dietary supplements, keep in mind the following:

• Like conventional medicines, dietary supplements may cause side effects, trigger allergic reactions, or interact with prescription and nonprescription medicines or other supplements you might be taking. A side effect or interaction with another medicine or supplement may make other health conditions worse.
• The way dietary supplements are manufactured may not be standardized. Because of this, how well they work or any side effects they cause may differ among brands or even within different lots of the same brand. The form of supplement that you buy in health food or grocery stores may not be the same as the form used in research.
• Other than for vitamins and minerals, the long-term effects of most dietary supplements are not known.

 

[Leongsam]

I don't need for now but I have gout problem. Reason I suggested this is because a dew of my immediate family members use this, long term, found to be good. In Thailand costs only 980 baht ($39) in Singapore heard its like bloody $70 so I buy lots for them whenever they run out.

Gout is not caused by joint degeneration. It is caused by the build up of Uric acid.

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http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/tc/diet-and-gout-topic-overview


Diet and Gout - Topic Overview

Diet and Gout Guide

• Topic Overview
• Related Information
• References
• Credits

Purines (specific chemical compounds found in some foods) are broken down into uric acid. A diet rich in purines from certain sources can raise uric acid levels in the body, which sometimes leads to gout. Meat and seafood may increase your risk of gout. Dairy products may lower your risk.
Foods to limit (very high in purines):

• Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains
• Meats, including bacon, beef, pork, and lamb
• Game meats
• Any other meats in large amounts
• Anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops
• Gravy
• Beer

Foods to eat occasionally (moderately high in purines, but may not raise your risk of gout):

• Fish and seafood (other than high purine seafood)
• Oatmeal, wheat bran, and wheat germ

Foods that are safe to eat (low in purines):

• Green vegetables and tomatoes
• Fruits
• Breads and cereals that are not whole-grain
• Butter, buttermilk, cheese, and eggs
• Chocolate and cocoa
• Coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages
• Peanut butter and nuts

Dairy products that may lower your risk of gout:

• Low-fat or nonfat milk
• Low-fat yogurt

 

[Froggy]

How long you have this problem of gout, I have a friend that has it. Seems pretty often it will act up. Could be due to the diet and food you are taking.

Gout is not caused by joint degeneration. It is caused by the build up of Uric acid.

It's lifestyle related. Cut the protein and uric acid will go down. Protein food include red meat, shell seafood and beans etc.

 

[laksaboy]

Try intermittent fasting. It keeps your cholesterol, blood sugar, calories (fat) and blood pressure down.

It detoxes your body. It also helps to clear your mind and keep you alert. It is like changing the oil for your car.

Fasting is not just for Muslims during Ramadan. People of any faith or no faith can do it. People in ancient times were doing it.

You don't need expensive drugs or supplements: that only enriches the corporations and pharmaceutical industry.

It is good to feast, eat, drink and be merry. But there must be a balance.

 

[Froggy]

For detoxification I do coffee enema on a regular basis.

 

[lifeafter41]

Thanks Sam, I have also seen this article under webmd.
Interestingly I have asked 2 doctors about taking these supplement and surprisingly their reply was try it and if it works for you, that's all good.

I recall reading in an earlier article that pain is a good motivator to find, try and resolve where possible.

 

[Leongsam]

Thanks Sam, I have also seen this article under webmd.
Interestingly I have asked 2 doctors about taking these supplement and surprisingly their reply was try it and if it works for you, that's all good.

I recall reading in an earlier article that pain is a good motivator to find, try and resolve where possible.

It's the placebo effect. As long as supplements cause no harm, doctors will tell you to go ahead if you think it helps as they usually have a vested interest in the health supplement market either directly or indirectly.

However, the gold standard ie the double blind test is my bible when it comes to supplements and if studies show that it does not help, then it means you're wasting your money.

You have to realise that swallowing pills that contain Glucosamine does not mean that this amino sugar is going to be deposited in the joints where it is needed. In fact, it can be harmful if taken in excessive amounts.

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

Lately really bothered by knee pain. Tried blackmores advanced type for the knee don't seems to work. Read that the gnc Triflex Vitapak seems pretty good. Has anybody tried it? Has it work for you? Thanks!!

these supplements are useless..............try boron, MSM (both Jarrow brand) 1st (buy from iherb.com - use discount code LOH347 for USD10 off)...........if still can't solve problem then PM me.............I got loads of info...........

 

[lifeafter41]

I plan to try the triflex vitapak, understand there is a total of 8 capsules per pack. Per box, it's good for 1 month, ie, 30packs inside.
Read on the review seems pretty effective.
Going to gnc to buy it later.

Dear guys,

Just to update, have taken the gnc Vitapak for slightly more than 3 weeks. Gone jogging for 3 to 4 times weekly. Sometimes on treadmill, but mostly at the east coast park. Did 3 to 5 km, mostly, between 30 to 45 minutes.
So far, there is no pain on the knees.

Placebo effect or not I am not sure, but seems to be working so far. Plan to try on for another month as it indicate need to go for 60days. So far so good.

Glad that I could go jogging again. Maybe will push for 10km moving forward.....

 

[Froggy]

Dear guys,

Just to update, have taken the gnc Vitapak for slightly more than 3 weeks. Gone jogging for 3 to 4 times weekly. Sometimes on treadmill, but mostly at the east coast park. Did 3 to 5 km, mostly, between 30 to 45 minutes.
So far, there is no pain on the knees.

Placebo effect or not I am not sure, but seems to be working so far. Plan to try on for another month as it indicate need to go for 60days. So far so good.

Glad that I could go jogging again. Maybe will push for 10km moving forward.....

Congratulations buddy. All the best.