Glucosamine & Chondroitin

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring body chemical, which the body uses to produce cartilage, tendons and ligaments; which are the connective tissue for joints. It has been describes as the 'cement of the connective tissue'. Glucosamine occurs only in very small quantities in our normal diet. Glucosamine as a supplement is made from shellfish shells, and so should not be taken by anyone with a shellfish allergy, though there is now a vegetarian glucosamine form. It stimulates the production of proteoglycans in cartilage, which minimises the progression and improves the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It may also act in other ways to help symptoms. The usual dose to treat osteoarthritis is is 500mg three times a day, or 1500mg a day. You need to check carefully how much glucosamine there is in any supplement you take, as it varies considerably. The doses recommended by the manufacturers also varies. Supplements with much lower doses should be regarded as being protective to normal cartilage, rather than having a full treatment dose. There is a possibility that it might interfere with glucose control in diabetics, so diabetics should discuss this with their doctor before using it and check their blood glucose level regularly when taking this.

Chondroitin is a naturally occurring body chemical that works in cartilage in a different way to glucosamine. It helps to attract water into the structure of the cartilage, which is essential for maintaining the cushioning effect between the joints, and bringing in nutrients to the cartilage, as it does not have its own blood supply. It has been called a 'liquid magnet'. Chondroitin is present in the normal diet from the gristle around the joints in animal tissue. Chondroitin supplements increase the chondroitin levels in cartilage tissue. There is not as much published evidence for chondroitin as there is for glucosamine. It is normally used in addition to glucosamine. The usual dose of chondroitin is 400mg three times a day or 1200mg a day. There are reports that it might interfere with blood thining medicines such as warfarin.

Cartilage is nature's shock-absorber and joint lubricant. It covers the ends of any bones that meet together, and stops the hard bone tissue rubbing together, which would be very painful. Cartilage consists of three main materials:

• Collagen is the structural element, and is made up of an interwoven mesh of collagen threads. Collagen is a protein, and is naturally made from the protein we eat in our normal diet. There is some evidence that glucosamine stimulates their production
• Proteoglycan chains anchor themselves in the spaces in the collagen mesh, by wrapping themselves around the collagen threads. Glucosamine stimulates proteoglycan synthesis, and is incorporated into the proteoglycan molecules
• Chondroitin covers the proteoglycan chains like twigs on a branch. This attracts water, and has a negative charge on its surface to repel other chondroitin fibres, and make the whole structure of the cartilage into a super shock-absorber. Chondroitin in the diet, and as a supplement helps their formation

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements taken regularly at low doses may theoretically minimise the onset of osteoarthritis, though there have been no published studies to confirm this. However many people take these supplements as an insurance. 

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage covering the ends of the bone thins to such an extent that the ends of the bones come close together or touch. This produces pain and stiffness. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can help reduce the loss of cartilage, and can help to repair the cartilage structure, where it is still intact. They can help with pain and stiffness.

Published studies on glucosamine and chondroitin have now shown them to be safe and effective to use either short-term or long-term for reducing the symptoms in osteoarthritis, but the effect on pain is not usually quick, and they need to be taken regularly for a couple of months to see if they work for you. After this length of time glucosamine supplements have been rated better than the normal pain relief medicines which are prescribed for this pain, or baught over the counter. However they do not work for everybody.

Glucosamine and chondroitin can be used together with supplements such as cod liver oil, fish oils and MSM.