Chondroitin supplement
and arthritis joint health benefit with MSM, review of research studies for
osteoarthritis, dosage,
and interactions
Side effects, safety, allergies
Chondroitin sulfate consists of repeating chains of molecules called
glycosaminoglycans and is a major constituent of cartilage
providing structure, holding water and nutrients, and allowing other molecules to move
through cartilage—an important property, as there is no blood supply to cartilage.
it may work by acting as a building block for proteoglycan molecules, and may
also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Methyl sulfonyl methane MSM is a dietary supplement promoted for a
variety of conditions including pain, inflammation, allergies, arthritis,
and the maintenance of normal keratin levels in hair, skin and nails.
Until recently it had not been studied much and most of the reports on
the benefits of MSM supplement had been anecdotal. However, there have
been new reports that it does have benefits, particularly in arthritis and
seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Chondroitin Sulfate 400 mg,
60 Tablets
Chondroitin
sulfate is a mucopolysaccharide found in cartilage, tendons
and ligaments, where it is bound to proteins such as collagen and elastin. In
our joints, it contributes to strength, flexibility and shock absorption.
Current research indicates that supplemental
Chondroitin sulfate may help maintain proper joint
function. Studies show it does get absorbed after oral ingestion.
Click here to buy Chondroitin Sulfate, Joint Power Rx with
chondroitin, MSM supplement for healthy joints as we age, Glucosamine supplement, or to see a complete list of high quality
supplement products
Supplement Facts
Chondroitin sulfate 400 mg per tablet
Suggested Use: 2 to 4 chondroitin sulfate tablets daily, or as recommended by
your health care professional.
Joint Power Rx
This powerful joint formula includes several herbal extracts and
nutrients that play a role in joint health.
Ingredients include: Glucosamine sulfate (from shellfish),
Chondroitin sulfate,
MSM made by Fine Nutraceuticals by the
trademarked name
Lignisul MSM,
CMO complex, turmeric,
boswellia serrata extract,
cat's claw extract, devil's claw
extract, grape seed extract, and sea cucumber.
Arthritis,
osteoarthritis benefit
In degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, there is a loss of
chondroitin sulfate as the cartilage erodes. Animal studies indicate that it promotes healing of bone, which is consistent with the fact that the majority
of glycosaminoglycans found in bone consist of chondroitin sulfate. It, in numerous trials to relieve symptoms and possibly slow the progression
of, or in some cases, reverse osteoarthritis. The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin may be more effective than
the latter alone.
The effect of glucosamine
and/or chondroitin sulfate on the progression of knee osteoarthritis: a report
from the glucosamine/chondroitin arthritis intervention trial.
Arthritis Rheum. 2008. University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake
City, UT, USA.
A 24-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted at
9 sites in the United States as part of the Glucosamine / Chondroitin Arthritis
Intervention Trial (GAIT), enrolled 572 patients with knee osteoarthritis who
satisfied radiographic criteria (Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] grade 2 or grade 3
changes and JSW of at least 2 mm at baseline). Patients who had been randomized
to 1 of the 5 groups in the GAIT continued to receive glucosamine 500 mg 3 times
daily, CS 400 mg 3 times daily, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin
sulfate, celecoxib 200 mg daily, or placebo over 24 months. At 2 years, no
treatment achieved a predefined threshold of clinically important difference in
joint space width loss as compared with placebo. However, knees with K/L grade 2 radiographic
osteoarthritis appeared to have the greatest potential for modification by these
treatments.
Chondroitin sulphate for symptomatic
osteoarthritis: critical appraisal of metaanalyses.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2008. Monfort J, Martel-Pelletier J, Pelletier
JP.
Chondroitin sulphate is an important structural component of cartilage and is
approved and regulated as a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthriti in
Europe and some other countries. Although numerous studies have shown the
clinical benefits of Chondroitin sulphate to decrease pain, improve functional
disability, reduce non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or acetaminophen
consumption, and good tolerability with an additional carry-over effect, there
are still some concerns regarding its effectiveness in treating osteoarthritis.
A MEDLINE database search was conducted for appropriate meta-analyses published
between 1997 and 2007. Data provided by these meta-analyses
indicate that chondroitin sulphate has a slight to moderate efficacy in the
symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis, with an excellent safety profile.
Knee arthritis benefit
Long-term use of prescription-grade chondroitin
sulfate for treatment of knee arthritis reduces pain and slows joint narrowing. The Study on Osteoarthritis Progression Prevention (STOPP) involved
622 patients in Europe and the US, ages 45-80 years, with knee
arthritis. On average, the patients reported moderate levels of pain
when the study began. Patients were randomly assigned to 2 years of daily treatment with chondroitin or inactive placebo. X-rays of the affected knee were
taken to assess the impact of treatment. Pain relief increased with time in the chondroitin group. Dr. Andre Kahan, at Cochin Hospital in Paris,
report treatment with chondroitin reduced the likelihood
of joint narrowing -- indicating a loss of cartilage -- by 33
percent.
Over 90 percent of the subjects reported good or very good
tolerability with chondroitin, and side effects were no more likely
than with placebo. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2009.
Chondroitin glucosamine hydrochloride and quercetin benefit osteoarthritis
A combination supplement of glucosamine hydrochloride 1200 mg,
shark cartilage 300
mg (consisting of about 100 mg of chondroitin), and quercetin, taken daily,
benefits osteoarthritis patients.
Effects of an Oral Administration of Glucosamine
Chondroitin Quercetin Glucoside on the Synovial Fluid Properties in Patients
with Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009. Matsuno Clinic for Rheumatic Diseases.
The effects of an orally administered combination of a glucosamine chondroitin
quercetin glucoside supplement on the synovial fluid properties of patients with
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis were investigated. Forty-six
osteoarthritis and twenty-two heumatoid arthritis patients were administered
with the glucosamine chondroitin quercetin supplement orally for 3 months.
Several parameters of the knee joints were monitored before and after
supplementation. The osteoarthritis patients showed a significant improvement in
pain symptoms, daily activities (walking and climbing up and down stairs), and
changes in the synovial fluid properties with respect to the protein
concentration, molecular size of hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin 6-sulphate
concentration were also observed. However, no such effects were observed in the
heumatoid arthritis patients. Gucosamine chondroitin quercetin supplement has a
beneficial effect on the synovial fluid properties in osteoarthritis patients.
Source
Commercially available chondroitin is derived mainly from shark and cow cartilage.
It can also be derived from porcine sources. I have not seen much
research comparing the benefits or risks of chondroitin derived from different
sources.
Glucosamine chondroitin side
effects, allergies, toxicity, safety
Allergic reactions are possible with glucosamine or chondroitin.
Otherwise, no major side effects with chondroitin have yet been reported in the
medical literature.
Research review
Chondroitin 800 mg a day was given in addition to naprosyn 500 mg a day for a
period of two years to a group of individuals with osteoarthritis of the hands. This group
was compared to another group who only received naprosyn. Those who took chondroitin were
found to have a slower rate of arthritis progression than those who only took naprosyn.
Is chondroitin
supplement necessary if someone is already
taking glucosamine supplement?
Research with chondroitin supplements is not as consistent and
extensive as it is with glucosamine. If you have arthritis, one option is to start with
glucosamine 500 mg three times a day for a month. If, after a month, you haven't been
helped, double your dose of glucosamine. If, after another month, you need additional
relief, you can try chondroitin 500 mg three times a day.
Another option is to start taking both together along with a few other nutrients
and herb found through research to be helpful for arthritis. Some doctors think
it may be better to use double the dose initially (at least once you have found
out you are not getting side effects or have an allergic reaction to the lower
dosages).
Can a diabetic take chondroitin sulfate supplement?
Yes. One study providing a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for a
period of 90 days did not find any change in blood sugar levels.
Emails
Q. I have a brief
question: Have you had anyone using either glucosamine alone or in combination
with chondroitin report that their total cholesterol increased? I have a friend
who discontinued taking the combination for that reason; I'm sorry, I don't know
how long she had been taking it.
A. We have not heard of the connection or a major influence between
these nutrients and cholesterol at this time.
Q. This sounds like a joke but it's not. Perhaps a month
or two after I began to take a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement to protect
against knee pain, I began to notice that my penis, which had always assumed a
straight position in the erect state, was developing a noticeable bend. (If I
had said I was taking the supplement for joint pain, then you really would have
been inclined to toss this one out.) Over the next month or two, the bend became
more pronounced and I was on the verge of consulting a urologist to look into
the possibility of Peyronie's Disease, a condition that apparently afflicts our
ex-president Clinton and can I understand, interfere with sex if it progresses
too far. The only change in my daily routine I could think of during this time
was the addition of the glucosamine and chondroiten to my usual vitamins and
mineral regimin. I dropped the supplement and over the next couple of months the
bend in the penis gradually disappeared. Perhaps it was a coincidence (although
I don't think so).
A. I read your email with interest. This is the first time I have
heard of glucosamine and chondroitin involved in this after several years of
looking into these combinations. I don't know what to say. I think it's
possible. Were there other ingredients in the formula or just glucosamine and
chondroitin? There's so little we know about the long term effects of
supplements and herbs that I keep any side effects as a possibility. I guess a
good way to find out for sure is to retake it and see what happens, since it
appears to be reversible on stopping... but i can see one's reluctance in this
trial when it comes to such an important member of the body :)
Q. I just began taking a chondroitin glucosamine
supplement (1500 / 1200 mg/day, respectively, as recommended on bottle. When
taking it (all mg) during the day I thought I noticed I was much
more tired than usual - almost fatigued. Last night I took it about 2 hours
before bedtime and for the first time in memory slept clear through the night (I
usually get up at least once to urinate and/or drink water for dehydration.) I
can't find that anyone has reported this anecdotally or in medical lit.
A. We have not had any feedback thus far that chondroitin and glucosamine cause sleepiness.
A friend of mine forwarded to me an email that I hope you
can comment on. This is what it said, "Chondroitin
is now falling out of favor due to a new analysis published in Annals of
Internal Medicine. Most of the early research on chondroitin shows substantial
benefit for reducing pain and improving functionality in people with
osteoarthritis of the knee. But research published since 2005 has been mostly
negative. When the analyses evaluated ALL chondroitin studies as a whole, it
found that chondroitin significantly reduced pain. When only larger,
higher-quality, and more recent studies were included there was no significant
benefit. The method used for the analysis is stirring up a lot of controversy.
And there are still questions about potential long-term benefits such as slowing
disease progression. This is not likely to be the last word on chondroitin."
We never rely on the findings of the latest study to come to a
conclusion regarding the benefit or harm of that particular supplement. The
research with chondroitin sulfate is not conclusive, but based on everything
that I have read and my professional experience, as of May 2007 We think chondroitin should be included in a joint formula along with glucosamine
and other herbs and nutrients for a potential synergistic effect on joint
health. We will await results of further studies.
MSM supplement information
Methylsulfonylmethane is a popular dietary supplement promoted for a
variety of conditions including pain, inflammation, allergies, arthritis,
and the maintenance of normal keratin levels in hair, skin and nails.
Until recently MSM had not been studied much and most of the reports on
the benefits of MSM supplement had been anecdotal. However, there have
been recent reports that MSM supplements do have benefits, particularly in arthritis and
seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Benefit
MSM is found in small amounts in everyone's blood and it is also
found in many foods. It's unclear what role dietary it plays in the complex
chemistry of the human body, but like other sulfur compounds, dietary MSM is a
necessary building block for proteins, especially those found in the hair,
muscles, and connective tissue of the joints and skin. Sulfur also is found in
insulin hormone and bile acid. MSM, taken as an oral supplement, is able to
cross the blood brain barrier.
MSM supplements appear to be a promising nutrient in the treatment of arthritis
and possibly certain types of allergies. A study finds the combination
of MSM and glucosamine to benefit in the treatment of arthritis
(see study below). More research is needed before we determine the full
benefit of MSM supplements and the potential MSM side effects with long term use.
As of December 2007, I have not seen any studies regarding the benefit of a MSM
supplement in hair or nail growth.
MSM side effects
Studies in rats show MSM supplements to have very
low toxicity. We don't know enough about the long term use of a MSM
supplement to fully
know the full range of side effects. To prevent any potential MSM side
effects, use the lowest dose that works for you, and occasionally take a break
for a few days.
We received this email in October 2006 regarding a potential MSM
side effect on high doses: Hi, Dr Sahelian, I appreciate your web site and your
comments about alternative remedies. I took about 10 grams a day MSM supplement for
about 3 months, for a back problem, which the MSM supplement helped greatly. However, after
3 months of taking the MSM, I noted small white pimples on my ears and face. It
appeared to me that taking such a large MSM dose for a fairly long time had
loaded up my body and that the excess was being excreted thru the skin. I have
now stopped the MSM supplement and the extrusion thru the skin seems to be lessening. I
thought you would be interested in my possible MSM side effect. Incidentally, I
searched the internet and could find no mention of this out break as a MSM side
effect.
Horses
The effect of methyl sulphonyl methane supplementation on biomarkers of
oxidative stress in sport horses following jumping exercise.
Acta Vet Scand. 2008. Horsepital SL, Madrid, Spain.
Methyl Sulphonyl Methane is a naturally occurring sulphur
compound with well-known antioxidant properties. On the other hand, Vitamin C is
important in limiting free radical damage in the aqueous phase of the cell, and
cellular vitamin C status may be linked to the mechanisms involved in quenching
cellular reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to determine if
supplementation with MSM and vitamin C could alleviate exercise-induced
oxidative stress in horses undergoing jumping competition. Twenty four jumping
horses involved in competition were used. Horses were given the following three
treatment diets: control (without supplementation), MSM 8 mg/kg, and combined
supplements (MSM 8 mg/kg + Vit-C 5 mg/kg). Nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, lipid
hydroperoxides and the antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione
transferase and glutathione reductase, plasma levels were determined.
Competition induced a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide
and carbon monoxide. By contrary, reduced glutathione as well as antioxidant
enzyme activities, were decreased. MSM administration significantly ameliorated
all these exercise-related changes, and this effect was potentiated by Vit C
reaching values in some of the parameters similar to those found before
competition. These results suggest that jumping exercise could induce harmful
effects on horses, probably due to an increase in oxidative damage and
proinflammatory molecules. In addition, we have demonstrated that MSM could
exert some protective effect on oxidative and inflammatory exercise-induced
injury.
Additional supplements for purchase
CholesFiber is an
all natural soluble fiber drink mix which helps support normal cholesterol
levels.
OptiMSM is a trademarked form of MSM supplement.
Cilengitide is an inhibitor of alphavbeta3 and
alphavbeta5 integrin receptors.
Cissampelos pareira
is the botanical name for a plant that grows in the Amazon rainforest known as
Abuta. This plant is known as Laghupatha in India and is an important medicinal
plant in Indian traditional system of medicine and has anti-inflammatory and
analgesic properties that make it attractive to study as an herb in conjunction
with glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM for the treatment of osteoarthritis.