Relieving Osteoarthritis with Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, with an estimated 21 million Americans afflicted with the disease. For these people, glucosamine chondroitin sulfate supplements are providing relief from the pain that is the hallmark of osteoarthritis. And because these are naturally occurring substances, people feel more comfortable taking them for pain relief than they normally would with synthetic formulations that are also prescribed for osteoarthritis patients.
Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate are derived from animal tissue. The latter is commonly taken from shark or tracheas cartilage while glucosamine is extracted from the shells of lobsters, crabs, or shrimps. They also occur naturally in the body: glucosamine is a kind of amino sugar while chondroitin makes up proteoglycans, or protein molecules. Both these substances are believed to positively affect the health of cartilage, which, when broken down, gives rise to osteoarthritis. Chondroitin can help slow down the breakdown of cartilage while chondroitin helps make it more elastic and flexible.
Science has provided substantial amounts of evidence on the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin dietary supplements in relieving osteoarthritis pain. A study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and conducted by scientists at the Boston University School of Medicine shows that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may have some effective health benefits for osteoarthritis patients. These two substances have been popular in Europe longer than they have been in the United States, and this study aimed to discover their level of efficacy.
The use of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate dietary supplements has been increasing in the United States. Figures from Reuters show that as much as 36 percent of Americans use nutritional supplements to maintain their health or to treat a specific disease. Aside from osteoarthritis, people use these supplements to treat back and neck pain. Full acceptance by mainstream medicine might not be quite there yet, but there are encouraging signs that more and more physicians are becoming open to the idea of the healing power of alternative treatments.
Remember, however, that glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate supplements are not meant to replace conventional treatments for osteoarthritis but to complement them. More studies are needed to assess the efficacy of these dietary supplements in treating osteoarthritis. In the meantime, you can discuss with your physician whether these supplements can help you and make sure to follow medical recommendations on the management of your disease.
