Who makes Cosamin?
Cosamin is manufactured by Nutramax laboratories, which is based in South Carolina and Mariland. This US company is subject to many of the regulatory efforts of the FDA, and its product is periodically tested not necessarily to ensure the perceived medical effects of Cosamin, but to determine the purity of the ingredients which are included, and to look for controlled substances. Although many consumers operate under the impression that herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA, this is not the case, as is evident in the continual monitoring of herbal supplement manufacturers like Nutramax.
Cosamin is an explicitly religious company, and this may cause for concern for those who expect scientific rigor in the manufacture of an herbal supplement. On the other hand, for those who are encouraged by a holistic natural approach to herbal medicine, the Christian-based company may be seen as it is a trusted source. The overtly religious approach to the manufacture of herbal supplements may also explain why Nutramax, the maker of Cosamin, has not been sued for failing to live up to its claims. On the other hand, Nutramax laboratories has sued several other companies for patent infringement. It is not clear how such pursuits work into the overtly religious company mission which specifically uses the wording “to serve the Lord and glorify him.” For those who are worried about the fact that Cosamin is made by a religious company, this may encourage individuals to trust the customer service guarantees provided by Nutramax. After all, although high level of scientific rigor in the making of Cosamin appears to be absent, Nutramax makes up for it in terms of responsibility, and judgment in terms of liability.
It should also be noted here that Nutramax actually produces a larger veterinary products product line than the consumer product line. In fact, Cosamin ASU system and Cosamin DS make up the majority of the consumer product line. In general, it should be expected by consumers that their products are not intended for veterinary consumption. However, considering the long track record of Nutramax, and its extensive experience in providing herbal supplements and holistic supplement care, it is very likely that this is high quality product. Whether or not the actual ingredients of a product achieve the desired effects are of course different issue. Nutramax does not appear to make any outrageous claims, but only communicates basic ideas about the effects of consuming glucosamine, chondroitin and the avocado and soybean-based proprietary blend. The effects of this proprietary blend appear to have nothing to do with the actual consequences of a diet which is high in connective tissue nutrients.
