Chondroitin Sulfate: Dietary Supplement for Osteoarthritis

Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated polymeric carbohydrate molecule. Biologically, it is defined as sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG). Chondroitin sulfate is an essential structural component of our cartilage. Chondrotin sulfate consists of a chain of over 100 individual sugars, each sugar being sulfated in variable positions and quantities. It is a popular dietary supplement for patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

Role of Chondroitin Sulfate in our Body

Chondroitin sulfate can interact with proteins present in extracellular matrix quite easily because of its negative charges. These types of interactions are vital for numerous cellular activities. Chondroitin sugar chains play a major role in stabilizing brain synapses. If the central nervous system of our body gets injured, the levels of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans rises which prevents regeneration of damaged nerve endings.

Availability of Chondroitin Sulfate as Dietary Supplements

Chondroitin is available in nature in various forms. The extracts of cartilaginous tissues of pigs and cows are mostly used to prepare chondroitin. Sometimes, cartilage of birds, sharks and fish are also used for the same purpose. Thus it is not a uniform substance, so the composition of the supplement varies from product to product.

Chondroitin is available as a prescription drug in twenty two countries. However, in the US chondroitin, as a dietary supplement, is controlled by Food and Drug Administration. As a result, there is no mandatory standard formula for the preparation of this dietary supplement and the correctness of the label of the product is not guaranteed. Whereas, in Europe it is an approved formulated drug.

Dosage of Chondroitin Sulfate

Chondroitin sulfate can be administered orally. The permissible dosage of oral chondroitin is between 800 - 1200 mg per day. Usually, it is taken with glucosamine. So far, no major side effects of chondroitin have been found. It is considered one of the safest drugs for treatment of osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate, usually does not interfere with the effect of other accompanying drug. So it is absolutely safe to take this supplement along with other drugs.

Effect of Chondroitin Sulfate on Osteoarthiritic Patients

Chondroitin sulfate is widely used as dietary supplements on osteoarthritis patients because of the simple belief that the real cause of arthritis is local deficiency of natural chondroitin sulfate. Loss of chondroitin sulfate occurs due to erosion in cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate affects the articular tissues in many ways. It acts as an anti-inflammatory substance and prevents inflammation of the joints.

Chondroitin sulfate stimulates the synthesis of useful proteinaceous substances, proteglycans and hyaluronic acid that gives support and anchorage to the cells of cartilage. It also reduces the catabolic activity of chondrocytes and suppresses the synthesis of substances like, nitric oxide, that causes damage to cartilage matrix. It provides a lot of immunity to compression. It acts as a carrier of water and nutrients into the cartilage and also allows other molecules to pass through it. This is an important function because cartilage does not have any blood supply.

Research has shown that chondroitin sulfate not only relieves the symptoms of arthritis but also slows down the progression of reverse process of osteoarthiritis.