What is the difference between Structum and the dietary supplement StructuActiv?

Both Structum and the dietary supplement StructuActiv contain chondroitin sulfate, indicated to alleviate osteoarthritis and support the regeneration of articular cartilage. There is a significant difference between these preparations - Structum is a drug, while StructuActiv - a dietary supplement. It contains a substance (or a combination of several) that has medicinal properties or prevents disease. When a pharmaceutical company places any drug on the market, it must prove that it is effective and safe for patients. Therefore, it conducts so-called clinical trials. In the case of new medicinal substances, this is often preceded by long-term research, first on experimental animals and then on humans. Dietary supplements are foods whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet. Supplements therefore do not cure diseases, and attributing medicinal properties to them in advertisements or materials attached to the packaging is prohibited by law. First of all, the task of the supplement is not to treat, but only to supplement nutrient deficiencies. Whether a drug is safe and effective enough to be on the pharmacy shelf is assessed by the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products. The quality of the drug, i.e. whether it has no harmful impurities or bacteria, is also supervised by the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector. A company intending to introduce a dietary supplement to the market does not have to prove its quality, effectiveness and safety in any way. It is enough to notify the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate and provide a model of packaging. To put it simply- no research needs to be done on the supplement. Its effectiveness is based on faith in the action of individual components. In addition, the dose declared by the manufacturer contained in the dietary supplement does not have to be absorbed in the amount that is written on the packaging. In fact, since the supplement does not have any research, its safety is not monitored - we do not know how much of this substance is "inside" or how much it is absorbed in the body. All these components mean that dietary supplements do not have to be prescribed on prescription. Over-the-counter drugs must meet several additional conditions regarding safety of use without medical supervision. Among other things, they must not cause frequent serious side effects, and in addition, the patient should be able to independently assess whether taking a particular drug is justified in his situation. The idea of using over-the-counter drugs is precisely the short-term treatment of common and relatively harmless ailments. Knowing the above data, the patient must ask himself what is better for him - a drug or a dietary supplement. We should also remember that any effectiveness of dietary supplements may result from their long-term, at least 3-month use. For more information, I invite you to the articles: https://www.gdziepolek.pl/tematy/czym-roznia-sie-leki-od-suplementow https://www.gdziepolek.pl/tematy/leki-bez-recepty-ktore-latwo-naduzyc https://www.gdziepolek.pl/tematy/wszystko-co-musisz-wiedziec-o-recepcie I also attach links to track the availability of both preparations in pharmacies connected to GdziePoLek in Warsaw: - https://www.gdziepolek.pl/produkty/75099/structum-kapsulki/apteki/w-warszawie - https://www.gdziepolek.pl/produkty/96185/activlab-pharma-structuactiv-500-kapsulki/apteki/w-warszawie and the exact description of Structum: https://www.gdziepolek.pl/produkty/75099/structum-kapsulki?ref=ac

The substance (chondroitin sulfate) is the same, the declared dose (500 mg) as well. StructuActiv is a dietary supplement, which means that the amount of the active ingredient is only the manufacturer's declaration, because dietary supplements are not tested as thoroughly as drugs - practically no one checks what they contain, in what dose and whether it agrees with the specification. So it can be 500 mg or maybe just 50 mg or 289 mg.

One big scam. One company put up money to register its product and so that doctors could prescribe after prior "agreement" with a representative of this company. There is no greater hypocrisy and corruption in the world than in the pharmaceutical market

Personally, I care if I swallow a supplement or a medicine. The most important thing is that it helps, for ailments. And this supplement called StructuActiv helps. And that's enough for me.

Looking for the best collagen supplement to drink? Check out our analysis of collagen supplements: https://www.gdziepolek.pl/artykuly/jaki-kolagen-wybrac-analiza You can buy collagen for drinking in pharmacies without a prescription - stationary or online.

Lek jest 3 razy droższy bo musieli wydać fortunę na te wszystkie badania,atesty itp.

Nie, gdyż substancje zawarte w suplemencie mogą mieć, np. różne pochodzenie mimo tej samej nazwy, co może wpłynąć na wchłanianie się.

Wszystkie wyjaśnienia cenne, wiemy już dokładnie czym różni się lek od suplementu. Ale czym różni się lek Structum od suplementu Structum, skoro skład jest taki sam? Jestem laikiem, trudno mi zrozumieć te różnice. Lek jest przebadany klinicznie, okej, ale skoro suplement ma dokładnie ten sam skład, to oznacza że jego działanie jest równe działaniu przebadanego leku. Czy ja dobrze rozumiem?

Żadna z substancji nie świadczy o tym, że Structum 500 jest lekiem, a StructuActiv jest suplementem. Substancje zawarte w tych środkach nie mają nic do rzeczy. Chodzi tutaj o kwestię rejestracji i badań klinicznych.

Structum jest zarejestrowany jako lek i znajduje się w Rejestrze Produktów Leczniczych. Prowadzone były nad nim badania kliniczne potwierdzające jego skuteczność bezpieczeństwo.

Produkt StructuActiv figuruje w rejestrze Głównego Inspektoratu Sanitarnego jako suplement diety.

Czym różni się lek od suplementu opisałam poniżej. Jak widać różnica między Structum a StructuActiv jest już na pierwszy rzut oka bardzo duża - nie mamy żadnych informacji o tym, aby nad tym suplementem były prowadzone badania kliniczne potwierdzające jego działanie. Oczywiście, jeśli takowe były, można zwrócić się do producenta z prośbą o udostępnienie ich wyników.