Chondroitin sulfate is a compound that your body uses to make cartilage. For the last 40 years European researchers have been studying whether taking chondroitin in supplement form can help relieve arthritis pain and even rebuild eroded cartilage.

Doctors in the US started paying attention in 1997 when a sports physician wrote a best-selling book touting chondroitin and another compound, glucosamine, as The Arthritis Cure.

The National Institutes of Health recently conducted a large-scale study of some of the supplements for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. More than 1,500 osteoarthritis sufferers at 16 rheumatology centers across the United States participated in the study over a 24-week period. Scientists gave research subjects five different treatment options including glucosamine only, chondroitin only, and a combination of both. Although there were no significant differences between treatments overall, researchers found that for those with moderate to severe pain, glucosamine combined with chondroitin reduced patient suffering by at least 20 percent.

Several small studies have found that taking chondroitin sulfate plus non-steroidal pain relievers (NSAIDs) reduced joint pain and allowed hip and knee osteoarthritis patients to move about more easily than when taking NSAIDs alone. And chondroitin helped some of them lower the amount of NSAIDs they needed.

A combination of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and manganese reduced pain in two studies of people with knee osteoarthritis. But it is unclear if the benefit was from one, two or all three ingredients -- glucosamine hydrochloride alone was not beneficial in one study of people with knee osteoarthritis.

The theory is that people with arthritis may not produce enough chondroitin, and that taking chondroitin supplements (made from shark and cow cartilage) might help restore the cartilage that has eroded away between arthritic joints. In test-tube studies, chondroitin stopped certain enzymes from breaking down cartilage.

In European studies, chondroitin sulfate caused mild side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. It rarely caused more severe side effects or allergic reactions. Researchers speculate that chondroitin sulfate may be less risky than conventional non-steroidal (NSAID) painkillers, which can cause stomach bleeding and even liver or kidney damage with long-term use. Chondroitin sulfate has been used safely in human studies lasting up to six years. Chondroitin is chemically similar to the anti-clotting drug, Heparin. Some experts think there might be a problem for people who take chondroitin with Heparin or other blood thinning medicines, although no interactions have been reported.

For people with knee osteoarthritis, a typical dose of chondroitin sulfate is 200-400 milligrams (mg) two to three times a day or 1200 mg once a day. However, glucosamine sulfate is better proven than chondroitin sulfate for knee osteoarthritis and it costs less. Also, there is no evidence that products containing both chondroitin and glucosamine are better than either alone. Keep in mind, the government doesn't regulate supplements as strictly as drugs, so quality and potency can vary from product to product. One survey found that many chondroitin products actually contained little or no chondroitin. In rare cases, products may be contaminated with undesirable substances. If you decide to try chondroitin sulfate, ask a pharmacist or naturopath to recommend a reputable brand.

Further Resources

Varro E. Tyler, PhD. Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1994.

Andrew Weil, M.D. Natural Health, Natural Medicine. Houghton Mifflin, 1995, 1998.

References

First published August 23, 2001
Last updated January 18, 2007
Copyright © 2001 Consumer Health Interactive

or find more on:

Back to top of page