Glucosamine and chondroitin are supplements widely used to treat pain from osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine estimates 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis--the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions bones in the joints, damaging them and resulting in pain and limited motion. Glucosamine and chondroitin are thought to have properties that inhibit inflammation and cartilage degradation. Veterinarians have long used glucosamine and chondroitin to treat osteoarthritis in dogs and horses, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
Reduces Pain and Inflammation
Although it may take up to a month to notice the effect, glucosamine and chondroitin may outperform the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory celecoxib, sold as Celebrex, to relieve your osteoarthritis pain if the pain is moderate to severe. The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, or GAIT, conducted by the National Institutes of Health and published in 2006, found that the supplement combination was effective in reducing pain by at least 20 percent for over 79 percent of participants. In the celecoxib group, 70 percent reported the celecoxib as effective. For mild-to-moderate pain, however, a placebo worked just as well as the glucosamine/chondroitin combination or each of the supplements taken alone. Celecoxib was more effective at reducing pain in this group. The study focused on osteoarthritis of the knee.
Reverses Cartilage Loss and Improves Joint Function
Glucosamine and chondroitin both occur naturally in your body. The Arthritis Foundation defines glucosamine as an amino sugar with a role in forming and repairing cartilage, while chondroitin helps give collagen, a main component of cartilage, its elasticity. Chondroitin helps cartilage retain water and is believed to block the enzymes that cause cartilage to break down. When combined, glucosamine and chondroitin may help reverse the loss of cartilage seen in osteoarthritis by providing cartilage what it needs to repair itself and even by increasing hyaluronic acid, a protective fluid that lubricates the joints.
May Slow Progression of Osteoarthritis
Though no conventional treatment exists to slow the progression of osteoarthritis, according to New York University's Langone Medical Center, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that took place over a three-year period showed that nearly 30 percent of the placebo group developed severely damaged joints, while only 8 percent of the chondroitin group did. Though the study results suggest use of chondroitin does slow disease progression, the medical center notes the industry has funded much of the research into prevention of osteoarthritis, warranting more investigation.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: GAIT Trial Backgrounder
- U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs: Arthritis Study Shows Mixed Results for Dietary Supplements
- Arthritis Foundation: Frequently Asked Questions about Osteoarthritis
- New York University--Langone Medical Center: Disease, Condition, and Injury Fact Sheet
- National Cancer Institute: Drug Dictionary: Glucosamine Sulfate/Chondroitin Sulfate Tablet
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