Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are produced in the human body and are involved in the production and maintenance of cartilage that cushions joints. The supplement glucosamine is manufactured from shellfish shells; chondroitin, usually from cow bone. Millions of Americans with osteoarthritis take glucosamine, often with chondroitin sulfate. Many experts hope that supplemental doses may indeed slow or prevent deterioration of cartilage and thus reduce the pain and stiffness of arthritis.

Claims, purported benefits: Cures or alleviates arthritis pain; helps build cartilage and cushion the joints; prevents deterioration of cartilage.

Bottom line: Research has yielded conflicting findings about their effectiveness. In 2006 a large, well-designed government-sponsored study of people with osteoarthritis of the knee found that neither glucosamine nor chondroitin, alone or in combination, worked significantly better than a placebo. The one positive note was that among people with moderate to severe symptoms, the supplements seemed to provide some relief, though this group was small. Further results from this important study are expected within the next year. More recently, in 2008 a Dutch study found that glucosamine supplements were not effective against osteoarthritis of the hip.

If you have moderate to severe arthritis symptoms, talk to your doctor about the supplements along with other arthritis strategies. If you already take these supplements and find that they help, continue with them, but consider stopping for a while to see if there’s a difference. If you take them for three months and notice no change, discontinue them.