Chondroitin
Also known as: Condrosulf (Brand Name), Chondroitin sulfate
Overview
Chondroitin is a glycosaminoglycan. It consists of long polysaccharide chains with a repeating disaccharide structure. Supplements are taken in the form of chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin is found naturally in cartilage, where it helps prevent tissue breakdown and provides mechanical support for the joints.
Benefits
Chondroitin is hydrophilic and draws water into cells, which helps with hydration and with mechanical support in the joints. It also helps chondrocytes — the cells that make up cartilage — to regenerate more efficiently, and seems to slow down cell death in these cells. Chondroitin also has anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory immune factors like interleukin-1 and prostaglandins, which may further help arthritis and other diseases of aging.
How it works
Chondroitin is most commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and is often taken with glucosamine. In people with osteoarthritis, chondroitin supplementation may help with pain and joint stiffness, and may slow down the progression of the disease. Despite its popularity as an osteoarthritis treatment, chondroitin is not consistently found to be helpful in research, with some studies finding no benefit. Chondroitin could be beneficial as an anti-aging supplement used for other degenerative diseases, not only osteoarthritis. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, it could lower the risk of other aging-related conditions, like heart disease. An association has been found between chondroitin usage and longevity, as well as between chondroitin usage and a lower cardiovascular disease risk. However, there are many confounding factors to be accounted for, and more controlled trials are needed to support these findings. Chondroitin may also be used in people with recurrent bladder infections, or in those with interstitial cystitis, an inflammatory bladder condition. It is combined with hyaluronic acid and infused into the bladder, where it helps to restore the protective mucous layer of glycosaminoglycans. The use of chondroitin supplements, alone or in combination with glucosamine, has been associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer in observational studies. It may have a similar impact on other types of cancer, such as lung cancer. However, more research needs to be done to confirm this and to find the appropriate dosages.
Side effects
Dosage recommendations range from 800 mg–1200 mg per day. This may be taken as a single dose or in 2–3 400mg doses. Chondroitin is sometimes grouped with other medications like glucosamine and referred to as a SYSDOA — a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis.
Dosage
Chondroitin is considered safe; very few side effects are reported at the recommended dosages. Occasionally, chondroitin sulfate supplements may cause mild gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea or abdominal cramps.
FAQs
What is chondroitin?
Chondroitin is a glycosaminoglycan. It consists of long polysaccharide chains with a repeating disaccharide structure. Supplements are taken in the form of chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin is found naturally in cartilage, where it helps prevent tissue breakdown and provides mechanical support for the joints.
Are all chondroitin products the same?
No, not all available products are the same. Chondroitin may come from bovine (cow), porcine (pig), or marine sources, or can be made through a process of bacterial fermentation (and therefore can be free from animal products). Different sources produce different structures of chondroitin, although the efficacy of chondroitin from all sources is thought to be similar. Another difference between supplements is whether the quality and quantity of chondroitin in the supplement has been verified. Over-the-counter food supplements are not monitored, and one study noted that these can contain far less chondroitin than stated on the label, and in some cases almost none. With this in mind, people interested in supplementing with chondroitin to ameliorate osteoarthritis should consider seeking a prescription for pharmaceutical products, if any are available.
What are chondroitin’s main benefits?
Chondroitin is most commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and is often taken with glucosamine. In people with osteoarthritis, chondroitin supplementation may help with pain and joint stiffness, and may slow down the progression of the disease. Despite its popularity as an osteoarthritis treatment, chondroitin is not consistently found to be helpful in research, with some studies finding no benefit. Chondroitin could be beneficial as an anti-aging supplement used for other degenerative diseases, not only osteoarthritis. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, it could lower the risk of other aging-related conditions, like heart disease. An association has been found between chondroitin usage and longevity, as well as between chondroitin usage and a lower cardiovascular disease risk. However, there are many confounding factors to be accounted for, and more controlled trials are needed to support these findings. Chondroitin may also be used in people with recurrent bladder infections, or in those with interstitial cystitis, an inflammatory bladder condition. It is combined with hyaluronic acid and infused into the bladder, where it helps to restore the protective mucous layer of glycosaminoglycans. The use of chondroitin supplements, alone or in combination with glucosamine, has been associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer in observational studies. It may have a similar impact on other types of cancer, such as lung cancer. However, more research needs to be done to confirm this and to find the appropriate dosages.
What are chondroitin’s main drawbacks?
Chondroitin is considered safe; very few side effects are reported at the recommended dosages. Occasionally, chondroitin sulfate supplements may cause mild gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea or abdominal cramps.
How does chondroitin work?
Chondroitin is hydrophilic and draws water into cells, which helps with hydration and with mechanical support in the joints. It also helps chondrocytes — the cells that make up cartilage — to regenerate more efficiently, and seems to slow down cell death in these cells. Chondroitin also has anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory immune factors like interleukin-1 and prostaglandins, which may further help arthritis and other diseases of aging.
Supplements Containing Chondroitin
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