This hydrochloride form of glucosamine is more available for absorption into the body; therefore, a smaller dose delivers an equivalent amount in the system. Chondroitin sulfate is a larger molecule also found in cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate has been studied much less extensively, but early results show that it also seems to work as an anti-inflammatory and reduces pain.
Some laboratory studies suggest that chondroitin sulfate may slow cartilage breakdown associated with osteoarthritis and even stimulate cartilage growth.
Many patients who suffer from osteoarthritis may benefit from the positive effects of taking this supplement. The painful symptoms of osteoarthritis may appear when cartilage becomes worn, and exposed bones begin to rub together.
Conventional medicine does not yet have a proven treatment to stop or slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Traditional medical treatment includes drug therapy to control the pain associated with osteoarthritis. These treatments are sometimes disappointing for physicians and patients because medications may not provide complete relief and can have unwanted side effects. Some of these patients may be candidates for nutritional supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
Preliminary studies show glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate to be safe and well tolerated. Common side effects may include:. These side effects are reported in a small portion of patients. However, even substances that are found naturally in the body can have unpredictable results when taken in higher than normal quantities and in different formulations.
This is particularly true with patients who are taking multiple medications or who have other diagnosed illness. For example:. Glucosamine and chondroitin protect cells called chondrocytes, which help maintain cartilage structure. In theory, these supplements have the potential to slow cartilage deterioration in the joints, and to reduce pain in the process.
In follow-up results of the study released in , these supplements improved pain and function, although no better than a placebo or the NSAID drug celecoxib. A multinational study called the MOVES trial found the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin as effective at relieving knee OA pain and swelling as celecoxib, without the side effects.
And another study found the combination helped reduce joint space narrowing--a sign of cartilage degeneration. Reviews of studies have yielded mixed results about these supplements. The difference in outcomes may be due to the variety of supplement types and doses researchers used. Studies have also differed on which of these supplements offers the greatest benefit for OA.
Some find chondroitin to be superior, others favor glucosamine, while still others prefer a combination of the two. The ideal form of glucosamine has also caused dissent in the research community. Some studies show an advantage to glucosamine sulfate; others to glucosamine hydrochloride.
One study that compared the two glucosamine forms head to head found no real difference between them. Mayo Clinic researchers agree, saying that evidence supports trying glucosamine sulfate — not hydrochloride — with or without chondroitin sulfate for knee OA. Glucosamine and chondroitin are considered safe, with no serious side effects reported in studies. However, these supplements can interact with blood thinners like warfarin Coumadin. They might also affect blood sugar levels, and one small study found they raise eye pressure, which could increase the risk for glaucoma.
If you have diabetes or glaucoma, you may need to avoid these supplements, or have your doctor monitor your blood sugar levels and eye pressure more closely while you take them. That means that there isn't strong evidence that benefits outweigh risk, but the supplement could be helpful for people with OA.
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While the evidence of benefit is certainly not compelling, some studies have found that these supplements provide modest benefit and people who feel it is helping them may not care so much about individual studies.
Even if a treatment is not effective on average, there may be folks who, for whatever reason, get real relief from it. And, even if the benefit is from the placebo effect, the benefit is real and that is hard to give up on. In general, glucosamine and chondroitin are thought to be safe.
However, as with any medication, there are potential risks. In this latest trial, people taking the glucosamine-chondroitin combination reported diarrhea and abdominal pain more often than those taking the placebo did. Other reported side effects include. A small study found that taking glucosamine may increase the risk of glaucoma, a condition that can threaten vision if not treated.
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