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Q. What makes Perna canaliculus unique?
A. The Perna mussel supplies five different glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in addition to a full compliment of amino and fatty acids, chelated minerals, protein factors and vitamins. In the end, it provides a much greater variety of nutrients than the limited formulations of typical chondroitin, glucosamine and manganese products.
Q. What are the potential benefits of the Perna having naturally chelated minerals?
A. The key benefit to naturally chelated minerals is that they are generally more bioavailable.
Q. What about the safety of Perna?
A.Glyco-Flex® products contain Perna grown commercially in the pristine waters off the coast of New Zealand. The mussels are grown on ropes suspended from platforms on the surface (not bottom feeders), and grown under strict quality control conditions that permit optimum harvesting and purity. Each batch of raw materials must pass the strict quality control guidelines of the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries before it can be released for export. Each batch is checked for potential bacterial contamination and heavy metals. The Perna mussel is freeze-dried whole to ensure that the nutrients are present and undamaged. Vetri-Science follows current Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP) practiced by the nutraceutical industry, and only uses outside FDA-approved testing facilities.
Glyco-Flex® products have been demonstrated to be safe†for use in dogs. Safety studies done on Glyco-Flex® I and Glyco-Flex® III showed no physiological, allergenic or immunologic effects. Results from this two phase trial show that Glyco-Flex I and Glyco-Flex III are completely safe. In each phase of this two phase trial, 17 purebred beagle dogs were randomly selected; 12 dogs were used in the treatment group and five in the control group. Each phase of the study was conducted for nine weeks; 56 days (eight weeks) on the treatment and seven days (one week) post treatment. Beagles were fed a standard diet at maintenance for the control, while the treatment groups received the standard diet and twice the suggested level of either Glyco-Flex I (Phase I) or Glyco-Flex III (Phase II).
Phase one tested Glyco-Flex I, which contains Perna canaliculus. Phase two tested Glyco-Flex III, which in addition to Perna canaliculus also contains MSM, glucosamine HCl, manganese and calcium ascorbate. Neither phase of the trial found any difference in the physical exam pre- nor post-trial and the overall condition of the individual dogs were unchanged by the treatment.
The intradermal skin test indicated no reactivity to shellfish after treatment. The results of the urinalysis, buccal mucosal bleeding test, blood chemistry panel, immunoglobulin levels and complete blood count were within the normal ranges and were found to be consistent between groups in each phase. There were no notable changes observed in dietary consumption or weight of the dogs in either phase. Results from phase one and two of this trial show Glyco-Flex I and Glyco-Flex III have no adverse physiological, immunological or allergenic effects.
