Actiflex 4,000 || Inside & Out

Actiflex 4,000

$85/ gallon with 128 doses, $0.66/ dose.
$135/ 16lbs with 258 doses, $0.53/ dose.
Purchase from Big Dees and you get a free quart (30 days worth of supplement)

Here is a chart that I made comparing it ingredient wise to SmartPak joint supplements and Cosequin. Even double dosing it, you get 1.5 to 3 times as many nutrients at half the price. Click to enlarge the photo.

Actiflex's label [provided by Big Dees] http://www.bigdweb.com/labelpdfs/4898.pdf

Ingredients & Their Functions:

Glucosamine Sulfate || “Glucosamine is a precursor for glycosaminoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans are a major component of joint cartilage”³ Glycosaminoglycans are polar and attract water; therefore the body can use it as a lubricant or shock absorber.² Glucosamine increases the production of new polysulfated glycosaminoglycans [GAGs] and therefore new cartilage; it has been shown to inhibit the enzymes that break down cartilage. ¹

Chondroitin Sulfate || “Chondroitin Sulfate is a major component of cartilage. The tightly packed and highly charged sulfate groups of chondroitin sulfate generate electrostatic repulsion that provides much of the resistance of cartilage to compression.” Chondroitin Sulfate stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans; while also decreasing the activity of cartilage damaging substances. In addition, has a mild anti-inflammatory effect. ⁴

Methylsulfonyl-methane [MSM] || “MSM contains sulfur in a form the body can readily use. Sulfur is necessary for the production of collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin, all of which are building blocks of cartilage. Sulfur is necessary for the formation of all connective tissue in the horse's body, including cartilage in joints.”⁷ MSM is found in nearly everything, from fruits and vegetables to grains and animals. By itself MSM does very little for the joints; though in combination with both glucosamine and chondroitin, improvement in osteoarthritis has been indicated.

Ascorbic Acid [Vitamin C] || Asorbic Acid is one form of Vitamin C, a water soluble organic compound with antioxidant properties. Vitamin C is a cofactor in several collagen synthesis reactions⁸ and a key factor to optimizing bioavailability of the other ingredients.

Perna Canaliculus || The Binomial name for the New Zealand green-lipped mussel is Perna canalicula.⁹ Perna contains the amino acids glutamine and methionine, vitamins E and C, and minerals zinc, copper, manganese¹⁰, and the omega-3 essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic.¹¹ Omega-3 has a proven anti-inflammatory property.

Yucca || Yucca schidigera has similar Omega-3 anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to “have anti-arthritic properties by suppressing intestinal protozoa which may have a role in joint inflammation.”¹²

Superoxide Dismutase || Superoxide Dismutase [SOD] are enzymes that are an important antioxidant defense for all cells; and has powerful anti-inflammatory activities.¹³

Boswellia Serrata || Boswellia serrata is an Indian herb with anti-inflammatory properties that has been clinically studied. Positive results in chronic inflammation diseases have been reported; with the potential to be a promising alternative to NSAIDs.¹⁴

Hyaluronic Acid [HA] || Hyaluronan [alternative name for hyaluronic acid] is found naturally in the body’s connective tissues. HA is responsible for directly lubricating the joint by making synovial fluid more viscous; preventing the deterioration of aging, over worked joints. HA is also shown to influence cell movement, blood vessel formation, critically involved in healthy wound healing and serves as an antioxidant.¹⁵

Derby and Actiflex 4,000

Actiflex 4,000 is a truly amazing oral joint supplement. I own a 11 year old OTTB named Derby and he has been on a double dose [2oz daily] of Actiflex since roughly September 2013. Derby has mild arthritis in his hocks, and up until recently got annual hock injections [his last injection was October 2012]. March 2014 I had a vet appointment for Derby to get his ‘maintenance hock injections’ as well as x-rays to have on record. Derby was 100% sound and moving better than ever, but it had been drilled into my head that once you start hock injections you cannot neglect them. Usually this is true, but thanks to Actiflex 4,000 we became the exception.

My vet [Brett Berthold of Cleveland Equine Clinic] mentioned ‘Why fix something that’s not broken?’ then continued to explain that injecting is a very invasive procedure and doesn’t always come out how we intend it to. A little unsure, I wanted to see how far along his arthritis was by analyzing the x-rays. Turns out that his arthritis looked fabulous! It was most certainly there, but very mild. It was astonishing for me to think that Derby’s was sound and doing wonderful when I had considered retiring him for good in 2012. I give Actiflex 4,000 and Back on Track credit for Derby’s amazing turn around. I will never not have him on Actiflex 4,000; it ensured longevity of life.

¹ https://www.smartpakequine.com/content/horse-joint-supplement-ingredients
² http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycosaminoglycan
³ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucosamine
⁴ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondroitin_sulfate
⁶ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articular_cartilage
⁷ http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=1570
⁸ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_C
⁹ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perna_canalicula
¹⁰ http://www.drugs.com/npp/new-zealand-green-lipped-mussel.html#ref6
¹¹ http://www.drugs.com/npp/new-zealand-green-lipped-mussel.html#ref7
¹² http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1440857/
¹³ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superoxide_dismutase
¹⁴ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellia_serrata
¹⁵ http://www.coxvetlab.com/products/acti-flex4000.htm