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Studies show that chondroitin sulfate (CS) slowed joint damage, and cut pain and side effects in osteoarthritis.

“We definitively have enough clinical data available supporting the view that oral CS is a valuable and safe symptomatic treatment for osteoarthritis disease.”

Researchers reached this conclusion after reviewing the body of osteoarthritis (OA) studies. Doctors explained that the main reason to use CS is to limit the very significant side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which include bleeding stomach ulcers and kidney problems. CS works more slowly than NSAIDS, but the beneficial effects can continue for three months after stopping, according to the doctors. Researchers noted recent studies found CS eased OA symptoms of the finger, knee and hip at doses of 800 mg of CS per day, and four newer studies that showed CS slowed joint-space narrowing.

Clinical trials using CS from 1996 through 2007 found that overall, CS showed a small but significant effect in reducing the rate of decline in minimum joint space, giving those with OA hope of doing more than just managing the pain of the disease.

Reference: Osteoarthritis & Cartilage; 2008, Vol. 16, No. 3, 19-21.

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