by Jeff S. Volek, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.C.N.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are normal constituents and important structural components of joint cartilage. Several smaller studies had suggested they may be of value to people with knee pain from osteoarthritis. A very large multicenter study that involved over 1,500 patients evaluating their efficacy and safety was just published in the New England Journal of Medicine. For patients with moderate-to-severe pain, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate was effective at reducing pain without side effects.
