From The April 2001 Issue of Nutrition Science News

Chondroitin Eases Pain, Too

by Anthony Almada

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) molecules vary in size and weight, which affects quality from brand to brand. The pain-relieving effects of CS—even after only one month of use—have been shown to be equal to those of anti-inflammatory drugs, and seem to persist up to one month following cessation of supplementation, suggesting on-off cycles (one month on, one month off) may be cost-effective.^1-4 Although CS does not appear to be as well-absorbed as glucosamine, perhaps because of larger molecular sizes, effective CS doses are nearly half that of glucosamine, or 800 mg/day. Comparative analyses of various human studies show the two have similar symptomatic pain relief, with CS possibly affording a slightly greater effect.⁵ However, no direct and rigorous head-to-head comparison studies have been completed.

In related research, supplementing for six months with a proprietary blend of glucosamine hydrochloride, CS from cow trachea, and manganese ascorbate (Cosamin DS) mildly improved mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.⁶ However, the daily dose of manganese ascorbate used (> 300 mg) merits concern in terms of toxicity.

Anthony Almada is a nutritional and exercise biochemist and has collaborated on more than 50 university-based clinical trials. He is the co-founder of EAS and founder and chief scientific officer of IMAGINutrition.

References

1. Morreale P, et al. Comparison of the anti-inflammatory efficacy of chondroitin sulfate and diclofenac sodium in patients with knee osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol 1996;23:1385-91.

2. Ronca F, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of chondroitin sulfate. Osteoarthritis Cart 1998;6:14-21.

3. Bucsi L, Poor G. Efficacy and tolerability of oral chondroitin sulfate as a symptomatic slow-acting drug of osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cart 1998;6:31-6.

4. du Souich P. Analysis of chondroitin sulfate (CS): pharmacological response in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis Cart 2000;8(Suppl.):S69.

5. McAlindon TE, et al. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. JAMA 2000;283:1469-75.

6. Das A, Hammad TA. Efficacy of a combination of FCHG49™ glucosamine hydrochloride, TRH122™ low molecular weight sodium chondroitin sulfate and manganese ascorbate in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cart 2000;8:343-50.