MarkW wrote:I am guessing the GlcNAc tastes OK but do not know.
MarkW
Here's what the manufacture says about the taste"
Ultimate Glucosamine® is a powder consisting of 100% pure N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This unique formulation contains no additives, salts, preservatives, coloring agents, gluten, lactose or yeast. It dissolves readily in both hot and cold liquids. When dissolved in water it forms a clear, colorless solution. It has a pleasant, sweet taste and can be added to any hot or cold beverage as a mild sweetener.
And here is their explanation why their N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is different from what they say is a "dizzying array of glucosamine products:
There is a dizzying array of glucosamine products on the market. Most are irrational combinations without any solid clinical or scientific basis to justify their use. In this section, we will talk only about the single-ingredient products containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and glucosamine sulfate.
1. Ultimate Glucosamine® contains only 100% pure N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Almost all marketed glucosamines are isolated from the shells of crustaceans, in which glucosamine is present as polymers of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. But some isolation processes use strong acids that result in the break-up of the polymer but also the removal of the N-acetyl group from N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, resulting in a low-molecular-weight glucosamine molecule. If sulfuric acid is used, a sulfate salt results, and if hydrochloric acid is used, a chloride salt results. A more gentle treatment and purification process yields the intact N-acetyl-D-glucosamine molecule.
Since glucosamine sulfate is hygroscopic, it is stabilized with either sodium chloride or potassium chloride.
2. Ultimate Glucosamine® contains more of the biologically active ingredient than other preparations. Most marketed glucosamine tablets and capsules contain the salt glucosamine sulfate and the stabilizer sodium or potassium chloride. It is important to know that only the glucosamine part is biologically important. Thus, products containing 500 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate may contain as little as 325 milligrams of the biologically important glucosamine component. In a recent study4 of glucosamine products on the Canadian market, the majority of preparations contained less than 60% of the stated amount of glucosamine.
Ultimate Glucosamine® is a powder consisting of 100% N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This formulation contains no additives, salts or preservatives. Accordingly, what you see is what you get.
3. Ultimate Glucosamine® is the more direct route to the important macromolecules such as hyaluronic acid, keratan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Unlike the low-molecular glucosamine found in glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is an advanced molecule that requires fewer enzymatic steps before being incorporated into the macromolecules of cartilage.
4. Ultimate Glucosamine® does not interfere with glucose metabolism5. Low-molecular glucosamine, as in glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride, has been associated with glucose uptake in patients. This probably occurs because low-molecular-weight glucosamine inhibits glucokinase6. Because N-acetyl-D-glucosamine has its own kinase7, it is not dependent on glucokinase and does not cause a rise in glucose8 levels when infused into humans.
5. Last but not least, Ultimate Glucosamine® is convenient, easy to take - and it tastes good!
Ultimate Glucosamine® is available in a once-a-day powder dosage, making it one of the most convenient supplements to take. The N-acetyl-D-glucosamine molecule is more stable and, with a melting point of 205°C, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine can be taken with hot beverages and used in baking. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is pleasant and sweet tasting, so that can be used as a sweetener when added to hot beverages such as tea or coffee. Low-molecular-weight glucosamine salts have a melting point of only 88°C, are bitter and generally have an unpleasant taste.
4 Russell AS, Aghazadeh-Habashi A, Jamali F. Active ingredient consistency of commercially available glucosamine sulfate products. J Rheumatol. 2002 Nov;29(11):2407-9.
5 Biggee BA, Blinn CM, Nuite M, Silbert JE, McAlindon TE. Effects of oral glucosamine sulphate on serum glucose and insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test of subjects with osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007 Feb;66(2):260-2. Epub 2006 Jul 3.
6 Balkan B, Dunning BE. Glucosamine inhibits glucokinase in vitro and produces a glucose-specific impairment of in vivo insulin secretion in rats. Diabetes. 1994 Oct;43(10):1173-9.
7 Miwa I, Mita Y, Murata T, Okuda J, Sugiura M, Hamada Y, Chiba T. Utility of 3-O-methyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, an N-acetylglucosamine kinase inhibitor, for accurate assay of glucokinase in pancreatic islets and liver. Enzyme Protein. 1994-1995;48(3):135-42.
8 Gaulden EC, Keating WC. The effect of intravenous N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine on the blood and urine sugar concentrations of normal subjects. Metabolism. 1964 May;13:466-72.