Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dr. Theo?

Jason Theodosakis, MD, MS, MPH, FACPM is a medical doctor, Medical School Professor, specialist in both Preventive Medicine and Sports Medicine, exercise physiologist, researcher, consultant and expert witness. He is the #1 New York Times Best-selling author of the most important, influential and popular joint health book ever written. The book, The Arthritis Cure, is now in over 12 languages and over 80 countries. The Arthritis Cure – Revised Edition, with new discoveries and information, introduced readers to ASU (Avocado, Soy Unsaponifiables). The prestigious Cochrane review proclaimed that ASU was the only herbal product that had sufficient evidence for use in Osteoarthritis.

Dr. Theo is considered to be “America’s Joint Health Expert” and was named as one of the 14 greatest doctors in the world by Rodale Press. Dr. Theo’s clientele includes the young and old; Royalty, celebrities, professional and collegiate athletes from around the world. Dr. Theo was on the Steering Oversight Committee of the $14 million NIH study on glucosamine and chondroitin, and worked for almost 20 years at the famous Canyon Ranch Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.

What’s so special about Dr. Theo’s Official Products?

Many people have concerns about the quality of some dietary supplements, and with good reason. Three reviews of joint supplement products revealed about 80% did not have in them what it said on their labels, including some large name brands and products that proclaimed to be “quality tested”. Furthermore, there’s been a big shift of companies who use only tiny amounts of ingredients, just to be able to put the ingredient somewhere on the label. These ingredient amounts are useless, and well below the minimum, positive researched dose of the ingredient. The FDA regulates dietary supplements similar to food products, not prescription drugs. So how can you be sure you’re getting a quality product?

Dr. Theo has found a way to make quality and label concerns all but disappear. Starting with the highest quality ingredients, then having the production performed at FDA, over-the-counter (OTC) licensed, pharmaceutical  manufacturing facilities, Dr. Theo’s Official goes two steps further.

Each batch of product is sent for third party, laboratory quality analysis. Finally,  customers can actually have access to these results! These four steps, taken together, is something that has rarely, if ever been seen in this industry. In fact, pharmaceutical products do not even follow this strict protocol.

What products are available under the Dr. Theo’s Official Brand?

AVOSOY® contains ASU alone (with Vitamins C, E and low-dose Manganese). One tablet daily provides 300 mg of ASU. It is fully vegetarian.

AVOSOY® Complete contains ASU + Vegetarian Glucosamine + Chondroitin (with Vitamins C, E and low-dose Manganese). Three tablets daily provides 300 mg of ASU, 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 800 mg of chondroitin (the dose used in the latest clinical studies). AVOSOY® Complete is “cow-free,” but not vegetarian, since chondroitin is currently from animal sources.

Advanced Premium Omega-3 Fish Oil3 is designed for optimal joint, heart, brain and eye health.Highly concentrated and purified, just two softgels deliver more than 1,400mg of long-chain, natural (TG) form total Omega-3 fatty acids including 1,000mg of EPA and the exact amount of DHA found in research to be associated with the lowest risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D3 Contains a minimum of 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol, USP). Vitamin D insufficiency is rampant in those who do not spend most of the day outside. In addition, sunscreen blocks the normal production of Vitamin D. Low levels of Vitamin D are common ad associated with a multitude of conditions.

How do I know what product suits me best?

AVOSOY® can be used alone for joint health or can be taken with other brands of high quality glucosamine/chondroitin containing products. It’s also a good choice for people who are taking anti-inflammatory medications or follow a low-sodium or vegetarian lifestyle.

AVOSOY® Complete is the “all-in-one” product for those who desire maximum benefit. All three major supplements are contained in each tablet. Most people who are experiencing joint difficulties or are at high risk them should consider this combination product. This has the most powerful combination of ingredients.

 

Suggested Use Overview Chart

Joint Health Vegetarian Use with other brands of glucosamine & chondroitin
AVOSOY® X X X
AVOSOY® Complete X
Omega-3 Fish Oil X X
Vitamin D3 X X

How do I know if a product is working?

Symptom improvement and being able to do more are two ways to know. This can occur in as short as a few days, to weeks. Full effect may may take several months, that why we price the products to make sure you have enough for a reasonable trial period. But even if noticeable changes don’t occur right away, don’t stop the supplements.

Another way to know a product may be working is if you’re able to reduce your dose, or eliminate the need for acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medication (such as Celebrex®, Advil®, Aleve®, Motrin®, generics such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, aspirin, or a dozen others).

Studies show that using glucosamine, chondroitin and perhaps ASU, long term can result in an improvement in the health of the joints even in those who have no noticeable change in pain. Dr. Theo likens the use of his supplements for joint health to the way calcium is used for bone loss or osteoporosis. There may be a benefit in taking these supplements even if you don’t notice any change.

Do AVOSOY® Products interact with any medication or other supplements?

There are no known interactions with any medications. Dr. Theo (drtheo.com) will be tracking cases, should they occur. Always ask your doctor before adding any supplement or drug to your daily regimen.

I’m already taking Glucosamine Chondroitin. Should I use AVOSOY® Complete instead, or just add AVOSOY® ?

Do not take more than 1,500 mg of glucosamine per day – so do not use BOTH AVOSOY® Plus and another glucosamine/chondroitin product at the same time. You should, with the help of your doctor, decide which product might be best for you. Many people use AVOSOY® Complete in place of their glucosamine/chondroitin product, or just add AVOSOY®  get all three supplements in AVOSOY® Complete.

AVOSOY®, which does not contain glucosamine, is the perfect companion to those taking quality glucosamine/chondroitin supplement brands.

Does the glucosamine in The AVOSOY® Plus or AVOSOY® Complete affect blood sugar or Diabetes?

A number of studies have looked at this, but there’s been no concern in humans at the recommended doses, or even much higher. In fact, the safety of glucosamine and chondroitin exemplifies why Dr. Theo prefers it to acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory drugs. If one is older, or has diabetes, the adverse effects of the drugs can be life threatening.

A study of a glucosamine/chondroitin product had no effect on the blood sugar of diabetic subjects compared to placebo over 90 days of treatment. No elevation in blood sugar was noted in a three-year study of glucosamine versus placebo. It is unlikely that AVOSOY® Complete will effect blood sugar or cholesterol levels. Finally, a completely separate study on individuals without diabetes showed that glucosamine had no effect on either blood sugar or a longer-term measure of blood sugar control called hemoglobin A1C.

Dr. Theo will be tracking cases, should they occur. He will also follow the literature closely and will monitor the FDA’s adverse event reporting service (AERS).

What does the “Complete” mean in the AVOSOY® Complete?

The “COMPLETE” stands for the added shellfish-free glucosamine AND “cow-free” chondroitin (in addition to the ASU).

Who should not use ASU, Glucosamine or Chondroitin?

These supplement ingredients have not been studied in children, pregnant or nursing women. Always consult with your physician before starting any new drug or supplement.

Why not just eat more avocados and soy products rather than take ASU?

It takes a large amount of avocados and soybeans to make ASU. ASU is purified and extracted from certain varieties of avocado and soybeans and only about 1% of the oil is the ASU fraction. Furthermore, this ASU fraction has to be separated from certain fibers to be absorbed. Therefore, it is unlikely you’d see significant benefits from eating (even large amounts) of avocados and soy products, and you’d gain weight trying!

Besides the challenges in isolating ASU, avocados have to be picked and processed at just the right time. Too young or too old and the concentration of the desired material is too low.

Are these supplements all I need for joint health?

Remember– keeping healthy joints requires multiple steps, not just taking supplements. The full prevention and treatment plans are detailed in The Arthritis Cure – Revised Edition.

Are the soy components a health risk for people with thyroid disease or breast cancer?

No. Don’t confuse ASU with other soy derivatives, such as isoflavones. In people who have thyroid disease or have had breast cancer, it might not be a good idea to consume very large quantities of soy foods. There are compounds in the soy foods called isoflavones that act like plant estrogens. ASU is not a significant source of isoflavones, however. The active component of ASU, the unsaponifiable portion of the oils, is quite different from the other substances that are found in soy foods.

What are the side effects of ASU, Glucosamine and Chondroitin?

There are no specific side effects from using these products. About 5% of people who take any product by mouth, even a placebo, experience some stomach discomfort, gas or bloating. Often, this is due to the fiber in the product, and not from the main ingredients. People are individuals, and may respond to supplements differently, however.

If you experience a problem, please report it to Dr. Theo at drtheo.com.

DISCLAIMER

Ask your physician if using these products, or any new dietary supplement is right for you.

The material in this document is copyrighted and may not be used in any form without express written consent of Dr. Theo’s Official or Supplement Testing Institute, Inc.