Chondroitin supplement
Chondroitin sulfate consists of repeating chains of molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Chondroitin sulfate 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. Chondroitin may work by acting as a building block for proteoglycan molecules, and may also have anti-inflammatory properties. See Consumer lab for chondroitin product testing. Commmercially available chondroitin is derived mainly from shark and cow cartilage.
Source Naturals
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.
Chondroitin for
osteoarthritis
In degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, there is a loss of
chondroitin sulfate as the cartilage erodes. Animal studies indicate that chondroitin
sulfate may promote healing of bone, which is consistent with the fact that the majority
of glycosaminoglycans found in bone consist of chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin sulfate
has been shown, in numerous trials to relieve symptoms and possibly slow the progression
of, or reverse, osteoarthritis.
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Chondroitin Research
Chondroitin at 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.
See bottom of page for more studies.
Is chondroitin necessary if someone is already
taking glucosamine?
The research with chondroitin 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 at 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.
Are there recent studies saying chondroitin cannot be
absorbed into our bodies through oral consumption?
The studies I have come across show that chondroitin does
get absorbed.
Can a diabetic take chondroitin?
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.
Chondroitin sulfate questions
Q. I read on a website that there does not seem to be a risk of mad cow disease
regarding the use of chondroitin sulfate from bovine cartilage. Would you please
do a Google search with the terms - chondroitin sulfate BSE. Number six on the
list after the scholarly articles says Caution - Know The Risk Of Your
Chondroitin. The website talks about its product of chondroitin sulfate from
shark cartialge. To your knowledge, are there
any differences in the effects of shark cartilage versus bovine cartilage
chondroitin sulfate on the human body?
A. There is some debate regarding the risk of mad cow disease and
chondroitin sulfate consumption from a bovine source and not all questions have
been completely answered. Thus far there have not been any cases of mad cow
disease diagnosed in anyone who has consumed chondroitin sulfate, and it appears
tens of millions of people have over the past few years. Furthermore, the risk
of mad cow disease in the USA is so small that one would have a higher risk of
injury or death by just getting in the car and taking a trip to the shopping
mall, yet few people think of this risk when they get in their car but worry
about extremely small and extremely unlikely scenarios such as mad cow disease.
Therefore, at this point, for practical purposes, it appears that the use of
chondroitin sulfate from bovine sources is acceptable and appears to be safe.
Since human studies comparing shark cartilage derived chondroitin sulfate has
not been compared to bovine source of chondroitin sulfate, we cannot say which
form is better. Chances are they are similar.
Q. I have read that chondroitin sulfate is such a large
molecule that it is mostly unabsorbable in the small intestine being over 35,000
angstrom and the intestinal lining only allowing 25,000-32,000 angstrom as the
largest molecule
to pass through. Additionally, there was a study done a few summers ago that
showed the blood levels increased an hour afterward to be only 4%, whereas
glucosamine sulfate was elevated 400% in the same time frame. If this is true
than chondroitin seems to be worthless as an oral supplement and rather should
be injected.
A. There is a great deal of controversy regarding the benefit of
oral chondroitin sulfate supplement. Reasonable people looking at the research
may come to different conclusions. In our opinion, having reviewed the published
studies, it appears to us that there is more research pointing to the benefit of
chondroitin sulfate for joint health, particularly when combined with
glucosamine.
Q. was just looking at the physician formulas
website and noticed you are a retail source of the Source Naturals brand
Chondroitin. I have been taking this supplement for at least 9 or 10 years. This
summer, when I went to purchase replacement bottles, I notice the ingredient
list on the bottles available locally had an additional stamp on them "CONTAINS
WHEAT" added over the regular list of ingredients. What wheat, and therefore
gluten, is doing lurking in the chondroitin formulas which say they contain
dibasic calcium phosphate, sorbitol, stearic acid, mod. cellulose gum, colloidal
silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate, is totally beyond me. Let me make an
assumption,
the manufacturer is using some sort of filler from Who Knows What Grain Source,
possibly from another country, or there's a big batch that got contaminated. The
question is, is this a permanent state of affairs or just a temporary one?
This has really left me scrambling to try to find a replacement which does not
have WHEAT nor other starches. I have my routine, I don't combine the
chondroitin. and the glucosamine. but take them separately, and that's what has
worked for me, very consistently. I've experimented with going off of them for a
few months, and I can really tell the
difference. I've tried taking just the glucosamines, which does not work as
well. Can you tell me if Source Naturals is going to start making a non wheat
contaminated Chondroitin soon again?
A. The best people to ask is Source Naturals since they are the
ones making the chondroitin product.
Q. I am looking for a high-quality chondroitin
supplement, preferably from a non-bovine source such as shark or a bovine
product that certifies the following: Only U.S. cows are used. The trachea of
the cow is used, which is not a significant reservoir for Mad Cow Disease, as is
the brain or spinal cord. The processing involves enzymatic digestion of all
proteins. Please provide more information about your chondroitin sulfate, 400
mg, product relative to these requirements.
A. The chondroitin sulfate product we have available is made by
Source Naturals, and you may wish to contact them for these details.
Q. Eagle Laboratories, Inc. is a manufacturer of Low Molecular Weight Chondroitin Sulfate. All cartilage comes from US federally inspected plants to ensure the quality of our product. I would be interested in talking with you to discuss the benefits of using a low molecular Chondroitin in your formulations. Mark den Hollander, Eagle Laboratories, Inc.
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