What Is Tart Cherry Extract?
Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when crystals of uric acid accumulate in a joint, leading to the sudden development of pain and inflammation. Treating gout can be complicated and it could possibly be more useful to prevent an attack than to try and deal with its associated pain and complications.
While cherry juice is said to help relieve some of the pain associated with gout, there has been some research, as well as anecdotal reports, that indicate that cherry juice concentrate – along with conventional treatments – may also help to reduce the risk of gout attacks.
However, cherry juice is not a quick-fix remedy. It is said to be effective (for about half the people involved in a study) in reducing gout attacks when taken daily for four months or longer in conjunction with conventional pharmaceutical gout medications.
The Vitamin Shoppe’s Tart Cherry Extract contains a relatively high concentration of cherry juice extract – more than double found in some competitive products.
Ingredients
Active ingredients:
- Cherrypure – freeze dried 1500mg per serving
- Tart Cherry (Prunus cerasus) skin concentrate
Vitamin Shoppe claims its Tart Cherry Extract veggie caps contain the highest dose of active ingredient compared to similar products, but this is not necessarily correct. We found similar dosages in other cherry-based gout products. Check the labels carefully.
Other ingredients: vegetable cellulose (the capsules), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, silica. These are all commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as fillers and binders.
Dosage
3 veggie caps per day, preferably taken with meals.
What Is The Cost?
With 30 services in a bottle of 90 veggie caps, the manufacturer is currently offering a one-month supply at a cost of $16.99. That’s a $3.00 discount.
Manufacturer’s Guarantee
You can return any unopened bottles of Vitamin Shoppe Tart Cherry Extract within 30 days and if this is accompanied by your receipt, you will receive a full refund. You could also return an opened bottle, which – if accompanied by your receipt – will enable you to receive an in-store credit which you can use to purchase another product. If you return either opened or unopened bottles without a receipt, you will receive an in-store credit for the lowest selling price of the product during the previous 30 days.
Our Final Review Of The Vitamin Shoppe Tart Cherry Extract
The high dosage of active ingredient in The Vitamin Shoppe’s Tart Cherry Extract indicates that this product could be among the most effective of similar products on the market.
However, despite being billed as a “natural” remedy for the painful condition of gout, as well as a possible preventative measure to reduce the risk of attacks, the capsules contain a number of potentially harmful chemical fillers and binders.
Nevertheless, the manufacturer appears to stand by its product and it is one of the few providers of food supplements that is willing to accept returns of both opened and unopened bottles.
We were, however, surprised that the facilities in which this product is manufactured do not appear to have any kind of manufacturing quality standards certification.
