Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate Supplements

Glucosamine, a natural compound found in healthy cartilage, is a normal constituent in the cartilage matrix and in the synovial fluid that helps to cushion your joints. Chondroitin sulfate, a substance derived from cartilage, is commonly taken in combination with glucosamine. The combined affects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can treat people with osteoarthritis. In fact, clinical research studies have found the usage of glucosamine supplements can help treat osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee. However, additional research studies need to be conducted to confirm these findings.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is a natural substance found in and around the cells of cartilage, and is an amino sugar that the body produces and distributes in cartilage and other connective tissue. The Mayo Clinic notes that human and animal clinical research studies have reported benefits of glucosamine supplementation in the treatment of osteoarthritis in various joints of the body; however, the greatest substantial evidence involves osteoarthritis of the knee. Benefits associated with glucosamine include pain relief and improved joint function. Researchers believe glucosamine provides stability in the synovial fluid and strengthens the cartilage.

Chondroitin Sulfate

Chondroitin sulfate is also a natural substance found in and around the cells of cartilage, and is a complex carbohydrate that helps cartilage retain water. Multiple controlled clinical research studies since the 1980s have observed the use of chondroitin supplementation in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, spine, hips, and finger joints, according to the Mayo Clinic. The studies have reported considerable benefits in symptoms, function, and reduced medication requirements, such as anti-inflammatory medications. Chondroitin sulfate is frequently used with glucosamine, but it remains unclear if there's added benefits of using these two agents together compared to using either alone.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cushioning cartilage between two bones wears down, causing the bones to rub against one another in the joint. Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, a decrease in motion at the joint, stiffness, and the formation of bone spurs. Osteoarthritis typically can occur at any joint, but osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common. More than 10 million Americans suffer from knee osteoarthritis, according to "The Journal of the American Medical Association."

Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial

The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, or GAIT, which first reported results in 2002, was the first large-scale, multicenter clinical trial in the United States to test the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The University of Utah School of Medicine coordinated the GAIT study, which was conducted at 16 rheumatology research centers. The study was designed to test the short-term -- approximately six months -- effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in reducing pain in people with knee osteoarthritis.

GAIT Results

GAIT results showed that participants taking glucosamine combined with chondroitin sulfate for moderate-to-severe pain had statistically significant pain relief when compared to the placebo group. In fact, roughly 79 percent had a 20 percent or greater reduction in pain versus about 54 percent for the placebo group. However, for participants in the mild pain group, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate together or alone did not statistically improve pain relief.

GAIT reported that the study should only be considered as preliminary evidence due to its small sample size of 1,583 participants. Therefore, further clinical research needs to be conducted to confirm these results.