info on chondroitin supplements

April 18, 2004

Chondroitin

Common Forms: chondroitin sulfate, sodium chondroitin sulfate

Overview

Therapeutic Uses

Dietary Sources

Dosage and Administration

Precautions

Interactions and Depletions

Supporting Research

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Overview

Chondroitin is a simple molecule that occurs naturally in the body.

It is a major component of cartilage -- the tough, connective tissue

that cushions the joints. Chondroitin helps to keep cartilage

resilient by absorbing fluid (particularly water) into the connective

tissue. It is also believed to block enzymes that break down

cartilage and it provides the building blocks needed for cartilage to

repair itself.

Based on clinical evidence, chondroitin may be an effective treatment

for osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a type of arthritis caused by the

inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of cartilage. Chondroitin

supplements have been shown to decrease the pain of OA and slow the

progression of the disease. Unlike current medical treatments for

arthritis, such as ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-

inflammatory drugs), chondroitin causes virtually no side effects.

Also, many NSAIDs and pain relievers treat the symptoms of OA but do

not slow the progression of the disease, and may cause serious side

effects such as stomach bleeding from ulcers or other causes.

Chondroitin is often taken with glucosamine, another supplement

thought to be effective in treating OA.

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Therapeutic Uses

Treatment

Osteoarthritis

Results from several well-designed scientific trials indicate that

chondroitin supplements may be an effective treatment for OA --

particularly OA of the knee or hip. In general, findings from these

studies suggest that chondroitin:

Significantly reduces OA pain

Improves functional status of people with hip or knee OA

Reduces joint swelling and stiffness

Provides relief from OA symptoms for up to 3 months after treatment

is discontinued

Although some improvement may be experienced sooner, the full

effectiveness of chondroitin generally begins after 2 to 4 months of

use. Chondroitin may also be used along with NSAIDs in the treatment

of OA.

Perhaps the most definitive results regarding the effectiveness of

chondroitin for OA will be achieved with the ongoing

Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial sponsored by the

National Institutes of Health. This large-scale study involving over

1600 people is investigating the effects of chondroitin alone,

glucosamine alone, or a combination of both for the treatment of knee

OA. Results are expected in 2005.

Other

Other conditions for which chondroitin has been suggested include

preterm labor, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

For all of these conditions, it is much too early to tell if

chondroitin is helpful or harmful. The role of chondroitin in each of

these conditions is under various stages of scientific investigation.

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Dietary Sources

The use of chondroitin as a therapy for OA (and other conditions)

requires dietary supplements because the precise amount of

chondroitin in foods is unknown. Meats with visible connective tissue

may be sources of chondroitin, but the exact quantity of chondroitin

present in such foods is unknown.

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Dosage and Administration

Chondroitin is commonly sold as chondroitin sulfate in capsule or

tablet form. It is also available in combination with various forms

of glucosamine and sometimes manganese as well. (Manganese is a trace

element necessary for normal bone health. While the total amount of

manganese from foods and/or supplements should not exceed 11 mg/day,

several combination supplements for arthritis [containing

glucosamine, chondroitin, and manganese] contain more than that. Read

labels carefullly.)

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Pediatric

Chondroitin is not currently recommended for children. Because it is

primarily used for treatment of osteoarthritis (a condition that

affects older people), it is generally not used in children and its

safety for children has not been studied.

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Adult

400 mg twice a day or 800 mg once a day taken orally.

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Precautions

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with

medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the

supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

As with all supplements, the purity and concentration of chondroitin

may vary from one product to another. Researchers at an independent

laboratory that tests the purity of health, wellness, and nutrition

products, discovered that more than half of the preparations of

chondroitin, and combination products of glucosamine and chondroitin

tested contained levels of chondroitin that were lower than what the

label stated. As mentioned above, this same laboratory also detected

levels of manganese in some chondroitin preparations that exceeded

tolerable limits.

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Side Effects

Chondroitin is safe and relatively free of side effects when used at

the recommended daily dosage at least for short periods of time.

Unfortunately, few studies have investigated the safety and

effectiveness of chondroitin when used for long periods of time.

Until the long-term use of chondroitin is deemed safe, it is best to

consult a healthcare practitioner before taking chondroitin

supplements.

Mild side effects of chondroitin reported in recent studies include

diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. There have been rare

reports of swelling and accumulation of fluid in the eyelids and

lower limbs, irregular heartbeats, and alopecia (hair loss) after

taking the supplement.

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Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Since the safety of chondroitin has not been widely studied, pregnant

and breastfeeding women should refrain from using this supplement

until more scientific evidence becomes available.

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Interactions and Depletions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following

medications, you should not use chondroitin without first talking to

your healthcare provider.

Blood-thinning Medications

Chondroitin and heparin, a drug used to thin the blood, are similar

in chemical composition. For this reason, some researchers speculate

that people may suffer bleeding complications from chondroitin,

particularly when it is used in combination with other blood-thinning

medications, such as warfarin or heparin.

Cisplatin

Preliminary animal studies also suggest that chondroitin sulfate may

reduce the kidney toxicity associated with cisplatin, a chemotherapy

drug used for cancer treatment. Further studies are needed to

determine whether chondroitin has the same effect in people taking

cisplatin.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Taking chondroitin supplements may result in a decreased need for

NSAIDs such as ibuprofen to relieve the pain and swelling associated

with OA. Because NSAIDs and aspirin can cause serious side effects,

such as stomach bleeding and ulcers, chondroitin may be a useful

adjunct or even alternative. Be sure to consult your healthcare

provider before adding chondroitin to your healthcare regimen.

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Supporting Research

April 18, 2004

interesting...i'll bet it contains shellfish hugs, sheila

tina83862 <tina83862@...> wrote: