What Are The Benefits Of Glucosamine & Chondrointin?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural substances that the body produces which surround cartilage in the body's joints, cushioning the tissue and preventing painful wear and tear. In recent years, these supplements have been conjoined and marketed as a holistic treatment for arthritis and joint pain, although scientific research is inconclusive. Before you take any type of dietary supplements, talk to your doctor. Taking glucosamine and chondroitin may cause problems if you also take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or medications to lower blood sugar levels, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Arthritis

Taking both glucosamine and chondroitin appears to benefit people with osteoarthritis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Osteoarthritis causes pain, inflammation and cartilage wear in the joints and affects 27 million people in the United States. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements reduced osteoarthritis-associated pain, improved hip and knee function and decreased joint stiffness in swelling in numerous studies. However, a 2006 trial conducted by the National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine that examined the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements found they reduced pain in people with osteoarthritis of the knee, but not people with osteoarthritis in general.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Children with cramping, frequent diarrhea and bloody stools caused by inflammatory bowel disease may benefit from taking oral glucosamine supplements or glucosamine enemas, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, which found these supplements improved bowel disease symptoms better than other medical treatments.

Bladder Problems

Flushing the bladder with chondroitin supplements could benefit people with the bladder condition interstitial cystitis. Scientific evidence also points to the effectiveness of taking chondroitin supplements by mouth to relieve symptoms of overactive bladder, such as frequent urination, suddenly needing to urinate and nighttime urination, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Vein Problems

Taking glucosamine could improve chronic venous insufficiency, a disorder that causes swelling in the legs, varicose veins, skin ulcers, itching and pain, however, scientific evidence is mixed. According to the Mayo Clinic, medical experts can't definitively say whether glucosamine can benefit people with chronic vein problems.

Leg Pain

Individuals suffering from leg pain may benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin injected into the spine. This treatment for degenerative disc disease is preliminary though, and scientific experts cannot recommend this procedure as common practice, according to the Mayo Clinic.