2023-09-09 00:30:04
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We updated this page's FAQs and database with a bunch of new meta-analyses. Additionally, the material in the "research breakdown" section was merged with our FAQs.
Chondroitin
•Last Updated: September 9, 2023
Chondroitin is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan that is present in cartilage. It is frequently taken with glucosamine to help with joint pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis.[2]
Chondroitin is most often used for
Last Updated:September 9, 2023
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.[3][4]
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.[5][6][4]
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.[7][8][9]
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.[10][11] 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.[12][7]
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.[7][15]
Note that Chondroitin is also known as:
- Condrosulf (Brand Name)
- Chondroitin sulfate
Dosage recommendations range from 800 mg–1200 mg per day. This may be taken as a single dose or in 2–3 400mg doses.[1]
Chondroitin is sometimes grouped with other medications like glucosamine and referred to as a SYSDOA — a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis.
Research FeedRead all studies
- ^Bruyère O, Honvo G, Veronese N, Arden NK, Branco J, Curtis EM, Al-Daghri NM, Herrero-Beaumont G, Martel-Pelletier J, Pelletier JP, Rannou F, Rizzoli R, Roth R, Uebelhart D, Cooper C, Reginster JYAn updated algorithm recommendation for the management of knee osteoarthritis from the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO).Semin Arthritis Rheum.(2019-Dec)
- ^Westmoreland CA, Koke JR, Bittar NAMP stimulation of endocytotic transport from canine coronary circulation into myocytes.Cytobios.(1986)
- ^Pal D, Saha SChondroitin: a natural biomarker with immense biomedical applications.RSC Adv.(2019-Sep-03)
- ^Hochberg MCStructure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration.Osteoarthritis Cartilage.(2010-Jun)
- ^Zhu X, Sang L, Wu D, Rong J, Jiang LEffectiveness and safety of glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Orthop Surg Res.(2018-Jul-06)
- ^Articles of the Hungarian Medical Journal from November, 1991.Orv Hetil.(1991 Nov 3)
- ^Ewald CYDrug Screening Implicates Chondroitin Sulfate as a Potential Longevity Pill.Front Aging.(2021)
- ^Navarro SL, White E, Kantor ED, Zhang Y, Rho J, Song X, Milne GL, Lampe PD, Lampe JWRandomized trial of glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma proteomics profiles in healthy humans.PLoS One.(2015)
- ^Liu B, Yang W, Zhang KRole of Glucosamine and Chondroitin in the Prevention of Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.Nutr Cancer.(2023)
- ^Damiano R, Cicione AThe role of sodium hyaluronate and sodium chondroitin sulphate in the management of bladder disease.Ther Adv Urol.(2011-Oct)
- ^Zhang W, Deng X, Liu C, Wang XIntravesical treatment for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome: a network meta-analysis.Int Urogynecol J.(2017-Apr)
- ^Khan AA, Mannan V, Pervaiz MA, Akram A, Momin ES, Sanusi M, Kashyap T, Elshaikh AOThe Role of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate in the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.Cureus.(2022-May)
- ^Dana E King, Jun XiangGlucosamine/Chondroitin and Mortality in a US NHANES CohortJ Am Board Fam Med.(Nov-Dec 2020)
- ^Hathcock JN, Shao ARisk assessment for glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.Regul Toxicol Pharmacol.(2007-Feb)
- ^Brito R, Costa D, Dias C, Cruz P, Barros PChondroitin Sulfate Supplements for Osteoarthritis: A Critical Review.Cureus.(2023-Jun)
- ^Schiraldi C, Cimini D, De Rosa MProduction of chondroitin sulfate and chondroitin.Appl Microbiol Biotechnol.(2010-Jul)
- ^da Cunha AL, de Oliveira LG, Maia LF, de Oliveira LF, Michelacci YM, de Aguiar JAPharmaceutical grade chondroitin sulfate: Structural analysis and identification of contaminants in different commercial preparations.Carbohydr Polym.(2015-Dec-10)
- ^C Ricciardelli, D I Quinn, W A Raymond, K McCaul, P D Sutherland, P D Stricker, J J Grygiel, R L Sutherland, V R Marshall, W D Tilley, D J HorsfallElevated levels of peritumoral chondroitin sulfate are predictive of poor prognosis in patients treated by radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancerCancer Res.(1999 May 15)
- ^Asimakopoulou AP, Theocharis AD, Tzanakakis GN, Karamanos NKThe biological role of chondroitin sulfate in cancer and chondroitin-based anticancer agents.In Vivo.(2008 May-Jun)
- ^Lin R, Xia S, Shan C, Chen D, Liu Y, Gao X, Wang M, Kang HB, Pan Y, Liu S, Chung YR, Abdel-Wahab O, Merghoub T, Rossi M, Kudchadkar RR, Lawson DH, Khuri FR, Lonial S, Chen JThe Dietary Supplement Chondroitin-4-Sulfate Exhibits Oncogene-Specific Pro-tumor Effects on BRAF V600E Melanoma Cells.Mol Cell.(2018 Mar 15)
- ^Lambova, N. et alChondroitin Sulfate for Osteoarthritis – Is There a Risk for Cancer: an Analysis of Osteoarthritis Initiative DataRheumatology (Bulgaria).(11 Mar 2024)
- ^Mazières B, Hucher M, Zaïm M, Garnero PEffect of chondroitin sulphate in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Ann Rheum Dis.(2007 May)
- ^Zeng C, Wei J, Li H, Wang YL, Xie DX, Yang T, Gao SG, Li YS, Luo W, Lei GHEffectiveness and safety of Glucosamine, chondroitin, the two in combination, or celecoxib in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the kneeSci Rep.(2015 Nov 18)
- ^Lukas Martin Wildi, Jean-Pierre Raynauld, Johanne Martel-Pelletier, André Beaulieu, Louis Bessette, Frédéric Morin, François Abram, Marc Dorais, Jean-Pierre PelletierChondroitin sulphate reduces both cartilage volume loss and bone marrow lesions in knee osteoarthritis patients starting as early as 6 months after initiation of therapy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study using MRIAnn Rheum Dis.(2011 Jun)
- ^Rabade A, Viswanatha GL, Nandakumar K, Kishore AEvaluation of efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and their combination regimen in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Inflammopharmacology.(2024 Jun)
- ^Knudsen JF, Sokol GHPotential glucosamine-warfarin interaction resulting in increased international normalized ratio: case report and review of the literature and MedWatch database.Pharmacotherapy.(2008-Apr)
- ^Rozenfeld V, Crain JL, Callahan AKPossible augmentation of warfarin effect by glucosamine-chondroitin.Am J Health Syst Pharm.(2004-Feb-01)
- ^Stellavato A, Restaino OF, Vassallo V, Finamore R, Ruosi C, Cassese E, De Rosa M, Schiraldi CComparative Analyses of Pharmaceuticals or Food Supplements Containing Chondroitin Sulfate: Are Their Bioactivities Equivalent?Adv Ther.(2019 Nov)
- ^Martel-Pelletier J, Farran A, Montell E, Vergés J, Pelletier JPDiscrepancies in composition and biological effects of different formulations of chondroitin sulfateMolecules.(2015 Mar 6)
- ^Tat SK, Pelletier JP, Mineau F, Duval N, Martel-Pelletier JVariable effects of 3 different chondroitin sulfate compounds on human osteoarthritic cartilage/chondrocytes: relevance of purity and production process.J Rheumatol.(2010 Mar)
- ^Adebowale, A. et alAnalysis of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate content in marketed products and the Caco-2 permeability of chondroitin sulfate raw materialsJ Am Nutraceutical Assoc.(Jan 2000)
- ^Chondroitin (Briggs Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation). Lexi-Drugs.; USA: UpToDate Inc.; last updated 23 May 2022; cited October 2024
- ^Chondroitin: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®); USA: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; last updated 17 May 2021; cited October 2024(2006)
- ^Honvo G, Bruyère O, Reginster JYUpdate on the role of pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate in the symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritisAging Clin Exp Res.(2019 Aug)
- ^Michel BA, Stucki G, Frey D, De Vathaire F, Vignon E, Bruehlmann P, Uebelhart DChondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial.Arthritis Rheum.(2005 Mar)
- ^Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, MacDonald R, Maxwell LJChondroitin for osteoarthritisCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2015 Jan 28)
- ^Eric Chun-Pu Chu, Kevin Hsu Kai Huang, Gordon Cheung, Gabriel Ng, Andy LinDelayed Skin Allergy to Glucosamine Chondroitin SupplementCureus.(2023 Mar 17)
- ^von Felden J, Montani M, Kessebohm K, Stickel FDrug-induced acute liver injury mimicking autoimmune hepatitis after intake of dietary supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther.(2013 Mar)
- ^Alfred F Tallia, Dennis A CardoneAsthma exacerbation associated with glucosamine-chondroitin supplementJ Am Board Fam Pract.(2002 Nov-Dec)
- Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Honvo G, Bruyère O, Geerinck A, Veronese N, Reginster JYEfficacy of Chondroitin Sulfate in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Exploring Inconsistencies in Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials.Adv Ther.(2019-May)
- Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Lee YH, Woo JH, Choi SJ, Ji JD, Song GGEffect of glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate on the osteoarthritis progression: a meta-analysis.Rheumatol Int.(2010-Jan)
- Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Hochberg MCStructure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration.Osteoarthritis Cartilage.(2010-Jun)
- Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Xiaoqian Liu, Gustavo C Machado, Jillian P Eyles, Varshini Ravi, David J HunterDietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysisBr J Sports Med.(2018 Feb)