Common Questions About Arthritis

What's the Latest on Glucosamine and Chondroitin?

Question: What are the latest data on the effects of taking glucosamine and chondroitin to treat arthritis and regrow cartilage? Do they really help to rebuild cartilage? If so, what is the recommended dosage of these supplements to be effective?

Answer: Research has shown that glucosamine is a nutrient that's needed to build the water-holding molecules that keep cartilage slippery and strong. If you have arthritis, not having enough glucosamine in your system is the worst mistake you can make. It's possible that glucosamine deficiency is a primary cause of your arthritis. In one 30-day study of glucosamine, 73 percent of patients with severe arthritis experienced a good to excellent response, while 20 percent became totally free of symptoms. In fact, in another study glucosamine relieved pain more effectively than ibuprofen. A reasonable dosage of glucosamine is 500mg three times a day. At this dosage level there are rarely any side effects except perhaps an occasional GI upset, which should quickly pass.

Chondroitin is a substance that attracts and holds water. Therefore it, like glucosamine, is extremely beneficial to the cartilage. Chondroitin is found in most animal tissues but is most abundant in cartilage. Like glucosamine, chondroitin has been thoroughly tested and has been shown to improve the health of cartilage and to reduce arthritis pain. For example, in one study, 13 of 17 patients taking chondroitin supplements experienced a significant reduction in pain.

I have found that 1500mg three times a day is a good place to start. You should check with your own health care provider. Side effects are extremely rare and there is no known toxic level of chondroitin sulphate.

For more information, I recommend The Arthritis Cure by Jason Theodosakis, M.D. (St. Martin's Press, 1998).

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