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Herbal and Natural Supplements
Chondroitin SulfateChondroitin Sulfate is a component of cartilage. In molecular terms, it is a gigantic molecule, mainly composed of repeated chains of glucosamine sulfate. Because of this, it functions in a way that is similar to glucosamine. Chondroitin Sulfate helps improve lubrication in joints, joint fluid and connective tissue, can be found in the sea cucumber. Chondroitin helps draw fluid into cartilage, improving shock-absorbing ability.
Using Chondrotin Sulate as a supplement
Many of the clinical studies with chondroitin utilized injected forms of chondroitin, something we imagine you would prefer to avoid on a daily basis. There is an average of 10 – 20% absorption with most mineral supplement pills, however chondroitin is a very large molecule and the absorption rate is much lower. Liquid, Chondroitin sulfate boasts a higher bioavailability than mere solid tablets or capsules, so you do not need as much on a daily basis. For liquids, you should be getting about 120 mg. Because Chondroitin is such a large molecule, even in liquid form you are only likely to get a 5% absorption rate.
The Evidence - Chondroitin Provides Relief and Slows the Development of Arthritis
Growing evidence tells us that, like glucosamine, chondroitin provides relief from the arthritis pain and movement restrictions caused by arthritis and slows the progression of arthritis.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with several hundred participants indicate that chondroitin can relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis.
One study enrolled 85 people with osteoarthritis of the knee and studied their treatment for 6 months. Participants received either 400 mg of chondroitin sulfate twice daily or placebo. At the end of the trial, doctors found improvement in 69% of those taking chondroitin sulfate but in only 32% of those taking placebo. A real life measurement also improved. Maximum walking speed was used to provide a real life measure and improved in the group receiving chondroitin but not in the placebo group.
Similar results were found in two other studies; A 12-month, double-blind study with 104 participants with arthritis of the knee and a 12-month trial of 42 participants. It appear that ongoing steady use may not be necessary to experience some improvement. In one study, 120 people split in to placebo and treatment groups, used chondroitin daily 90 days during two separate periods during the year long study and those using chondroitin in this manner also showed significant improvement.
Chondroitin May Also Slow the progression of Arthritis
Not only can Chondroitin provide relief it may also slow the progression of arthritis. In another placebo controlled study individuals in the placebo group showed progressive joint damage, but those taking chondroitin sulfate showed no increase in joint damage. Chondroitin sulfate seems to protect the joints of osteoarthritis sufferers from further damage.
There were similar findings in a long term study. Over a 3 year period, a study of 119 persons also found evidence that chondroitin sulfate can slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Thirty-four of the participants received 1,200 mg of chondroitin sulfate per day; the rest received placebo. Over the course of the study researchers took x-rays to determine how many joints had progressed to a severe stage. During the 3 years of the study only 8.8% of those who took chondroitin sulfate developed severely damaged joints, whereas almost 30% of those who took placebo progressed to this level of damage..
Chondroitin's effectiveness - Oral vs. Injection
Additional evidence comes from animal studies. Researchers measured the effects of chondroitin sulfate (administered both orally and via injection directly into the muscle) in rabbits, in which cartilage damage had been induced in one knee by the injection of an enzyme. After 84 days of treatment, the damaged knees in the animals that had been given chondroitin sulfate had significantly more cartilage left than the knees of the untreated animals. Taking chondroitin sulfate by mouth was as effective as taking it through an injection.
From the research it is clear that chondroitin sulfate may actually protect joints from damage when they are being attacked by osteoarthritis.
Caution
Patients with osteoarthritis taking blood-thinners should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the blood-thinning and cause excessive bleeding. There may be an association with an increased recurrence risk of prostate cancer and chondroitin use. However, there's no evidence that chondroitin or chondroitin supplements cause prostate cancer. Some preliminary research has found higher concentrations of chondroitin in cancerous prostate tissue than in normal prostate tissue. This research also suggests that higher concentrations in the tissue surrounding the prostate tumor may indicate a more aggressive cancer. It may be that the increased level of chondroitin is a result of an aggressive cancer not the cause. The study didn't identify the source of the chondroitin in the tumors. Simply because a substance is present in or around a tumor doesn't by itself suggest that the substance is causing the cancer. If you are at high risk for prostrate cancer or have had prostrate cancer it would be reasonable to look at alternatives to Chondroitin supplements.
The following sections cover many of the potential routes to the relief of arthritic symptoms from Acupuncture to Zinc.
Some of our products for Arthritis ....
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