Why do glucosamine chondroitin supplements smell so bad?

Question

I just started taking GNC Glucosamine 500 Chondroitin 400 for joint health and the pills smell terrible. Any idea why this is, and if there are any other glucosamine supplements out there that don't have this odor?

Answer 1

The main source of glucosamine is the shells of crustaceans like prawns and crabs, which are available as a byproduct of the shellfish industry. So it is quite possible that minor impurities might make the pills smell fishy. Also, glucosamine breaks down to make ammonia if kept too long, at high temperatures or somewhere damp.

Make sure the pills are in date. If they aren't, either take them back or throw them away depending on how long you've had them.

You can get glucosamine not made from shellfish, and it's usually marked as being vegetarian, but it is a bit more expensive.