Chondroitin Sulfate

What Is It?

A natural component of the cartilage that cushions joints, chondroitin sulfate is a compound that appears to block the enzymes that can destroy crucial cartilage tissue. It is also believed to promote water retention and elasticity in joint cartilage. For these reasons chondroitin has become a popular dietary supplement for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Some studies indicate that it is as effective as aspirin and other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) at relieving arthritis pains--and at considerably less risk of causing stomach irritation and other gastric upset.



Until about a decade ago, most studies on chondroitin were small and poorly designed. There were doubts about its ability to be absorbed in oral form, and experts reserved their judgment on its effectiveness. Then, in the mid-1990s, scientists discovered that chondroitin is actually well absorbed, up to 15% intact. Promising follow-up research in people suffering from osteoarthritis prompted both the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism to recommend chondroitin in their published guidelines for osteoarthritis treatment.



Chondroitin is often sold in combination with glucosamine, another compound key to cartilage formation and repair. The latest studies have focused on evaluating how effectively these products work in combination. The results of a large, three-year National Institutes of Health study on this combination are expected in the year 2005.



Health Benefits

Preliminary findings indicate that chondroitin may increase joint mobility and slow cartilage loss. However, claims that chondroitin can actually help to rebuild cartilage remain largely unproved. Researchers hypothesize that chondroitin encourages water retention and elasticity in cartilage, and inhibits enzymes that break down cartilage.



With chondroitin use, joint function appears to improve and pain to diminish in people with knee and hip osteoarthritis. So far there is no firm evidence that the same effect would necessarily occur in other joints, such as fingers, thumbs, ankles, or the spine.



Chondroitin is not a primary treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a less common but more disabling form of arthritis that results from serious immune dysfunction and inflammation rather than the cartilage