Do Glucosamine and Chondroitin Help Osteoarthritis?
Two new dietary supplements marketed to osteoarthritis sufferers, glucosamine and chondroitin, are getting a lot of attention. It is natural for people with arthritis to seek out new solutions for such a painful, chronic disease. The challenge is sorting through the claims to separate facts from false hopes. The best way to do that is to talk with your physician. In a report from the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found a moderate effect on pain relief and improved mobility with glucosamine, and a significant positive effect for chondroitin. These natural body substances are usually taken together. There’s some evidence that the supplements may actually slow the progression of cartilage loss in affected joints. Glucosamine and chondroitin are considered “nutritional supplements” in the United States and not drugs.
