Chondroitin

Chondroitin is a naturally occurring substance formed of sugar chains. Chondroitin is believed to help the body maintain fluid and flexibility in the joints.

Chondroitin has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating osteoarthritis pain.

Other uses not proven with research have included treating cataracts, bladder problems, heart disease, or osteoporosis.

Chondroitin may have been combined with other plants or extracts in a specific preparation to treat these conditions.

It is not certain whether chondroitin is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Chondroitin should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Chondroitin is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Chondroitin may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra chondroitin to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Chondroitin sulfate has been studied for the treatment of arthritis; however, information on its effectiveness is conflicting. It is commonly given in combination with other agents, such as glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. It has also been studied for use in drug delivery, antithrombotic and extravasation therapy, and treatment of dry eyes and interstitial cystitis.

Chondroitin sulfate has been administered orally for treatment of arthritis at a dosage of 800 to 1,200 mg/day. Positive results often require several months to manifest, and a posttreatment effect has been observed. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 Animal studies have suggested that the bioavailability of chondroitin sulfate may be increased when given multiple times a day. 10

An increase in the international normalized ratio (INR) may occur in patients taking anticoagulants, such as warfarin (eg, Coumadin ), with either chondroitin alone or in combination with glucosamine. 11

Chondroitin sulfate is a high-viscosity, anionic mucopolysaccharide (glycosaminoglycan) with N-acetylchondrosine as a repeating unit and one sulfate group per disaccharide unit. 20 Chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate are the most abundant mucopolysaccharides and occur in skeletal and soft connective tissue. 20 Chondroitin's molecular weight is about 50,000, depending on product source or preparation. 15 Sulfation of the sugar residues occurs to varying degrees, depending on tissue sources and conditions for formation. 21 Danaparoid sodium (a heparin preparation containing chondroitin) has a lower molecular weight (5,500 to 6,000). 17 Analytical determination, including high-pressure liquid chromatography, spectrophotometric analysis, chemical methods, ultraviolet spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy, has been performed on chondroitin and related structures. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 A method for potentiometric titration of chondroitin sulfate has been reported. 27