Ray D. Strand
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 I personally feel that the most important nutrient is still glucosamine sulfate. Oral chondroitin needs to be studied more thoroughly in larger number of patients, allowing more plausible evidence as to whether chondroitin is really a player or not. I also believe MSM (a natural anti-inflammatory) needs to be studied more thoroughly. But I have had several patients who experienced a significant response when they added it to their regime.
Chondroitin Sulfate
Several studies show improvement in patients with arthritis who are getting additional chondroitin. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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 The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) was a multisite placebo-controlled study in which 1,583 arthritis patients were randomly assigned to glucosamine, chondroitin, Celebrex, combination glucosamine/chondroitin, or a placebo. Although glucosamine and chondroitin (alone or in combination) did not result in a statistically significant reduction in pain, combination therapy was superior to placebo (but not to Celebrex) in a subset of patients with moderate to severe arthritis pain. |
Ray D. Strand
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| Oral chondroitin needs to be studied more thoroughly in larger number of patients, allowing more plausible evidence as to whether chondroitin is really a player or not. I also believe MSM (a natural anti-inflammatory) needs to be studied more thoroughly. But I have had several patients who experienced a significant response when they added it to their regime.
Chondroitin Sulfate
Several studies show improvement in patients with arthritis who are getting additional chondroitin. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Use caution in taking chondroitin sulfate if you are taking anticoagulants (blood-thinners) or daily aspirin, as it is chemically similar to the blood-thinner heparin. Pregnant women should not take these supplements, as there has not been sufficient study regarding their safety and potential side effects during pregnancy.
Twinlab manufactures a number of good products containing chondroitin sulfate. Glucosamine chondroitin Sulfate from Only Natural, Inc., is a good combination source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Some people will use chondroitin sulfate and they have these big arguments saying this is better, and that is better. Dr. Jonathan Wright, a doctor who educates other doctors about nutrition, wrote that men who are prone to prostate cancer should not take bovine sources of chondroitin sulfate. They can actually cause some problems.
When I read that, I thought, "I am not putting bovine chondroitin sulfate in my products." I went out and I searched and found sea cucumber. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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| Often combined with glucosamine, it is sold in health-food stores. chondroitin stimulates the production of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid and inhibits proteolytic enzymes, which destroy cartilage. chondroitin and glucosamine are often given in combination for osteoarthritis.
Most of the earlier studies of glucosamine and chondroitin were performed by manufacturers and were not well controlled. |
| Chondroitin, a product derived from the cartilage of sharks and cows, is promoted for the prevention of arthritis and the treatment of joint pain. chondroitin stimulates the production of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid and inhibits proteolytic enzymes, which destroy cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin are often combined and sold in health-food stores.
One placebo-controlled study in older males with osteoarthritis of the knee showed no difference in pain ratings between patients treated with glucosamine and those treated with placebo. |
| Glucosamine is felt to be a precursor of proteoglycans, which are thought to be instrumental in helping cartilage retain water and in promoting formation of an elastic layer that may improve the functional characteristics of cartilage. chondroitin, a product derived from the cartilage of sharks and cows, is promoted for the prevention of arthritis and the treatment of joint pain. chondroitin stimulates the production of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid and inhibits proteolytic enzymes, which destroy cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin are often combined and sold in health-food stores. |
| Chondroitin stimulates the production of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid and inhibits proteolytic enzymes, which destroy cartilage. chondroitin and glucosamine are often given in combination for osteoarthritis.
Most of the earlier studies of glucosamine and chondroitin were performed by manufacturers and were not well controlled. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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| It is actually 20 percent chondroitin sulfate. However, the chondroitins that are in there are different. The sugars that sit on them sit in different places, so it is a safer alternative.
Then we put the MSM in there because the MSM is a source of sulfur, which is needed in building those glycosaminoglycans, the connective tissues. MSM is also known to be a painkiller. You might find a lot of formulas with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM in them. They're foundational nutrients.
Now we go to the next level. You have inflammation in the joints. |
| When I read that, I thought, "I am not putting bovine chondroitin sulfate in my products." I went out and I searched and found sea cucumber. Sea cucumber has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years for dealing with joint problems and connective tissues -- it actually is a whole body tonic. It strengthens users in many ways. It is actually 20 percent chondroitin sulfate. However, the chondroitins that are in there are different. The sugars that sit on them sit in different places, so it is a safer alternative. |
| Jonathan Wright, a doctor who educates other doctors about nutrition, wrote that men who are prone to prostate cancer should not take bovine sources of chondroitin sulfate. They can actually cause some problems.
When I read that, I thought, "I am not putting bovine chondroitin sulfate in my products." I went out and I searched and found sea cucumber. Sea cucumber has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years for dealing with joint problems and connective tissues -- it actually is a whole body tonic. It strengthens users in many ways. It is actually 20 percent chondroitin sulfate. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 Many studies have shown that glucosamine and/or chondroitin are beneficial in helping to repair damage to the joints caused by osteoarthritis (more on chondroitin in a minute). While it can't bring cartilage back, it can prevent further loss as well as reduce symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness or noise in the joints.
This is important, especially for postmenopausal women, who have a greater propensity toward osteoarthritis than men. In two independent, three-year, randomized, placebo-controlled studies, glucosamine sulfate was shown to slow the progression of osteoarthritis symptoms. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Twinlab manufactures a number of good products containing chondroitin sulfate. Glucosamine chondroitin Sulfate from Only Natural, Inc., is a good combination source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
Citrin
Citrin is a trademarked name for a standardized herbal extract from the fruit of the Garcinia cambogia plant, also known as Indian berry. It inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids in the liver, promotes the burning of body fat as fuel, and suppresses the appetite. |
Ray D. Strand
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| But many of these positive studies have involved actual IV injections of chondroitin, and some researchers are concerned that chondroitin is not effectively absorbed through the Gl tract. Some say that it is broken down, then absorbed, and reassembled within the joint cartilage. I feel further studies are needed to determine its overall importance in the treatment of osteoarthritis.8
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a nutritional deficiency at literally epidemic proportions in the U.S. |
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D.
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 Also, it is not known whether combination therapy is more effecrive than glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate alone. It is possible that chondroitin sulfate confers certain benefits that are not obtainable with glucosamine. We usually recommend glucosamine sulfate for our patients, without the addition of chondroitin sulfate. However, we have no objection if someone wants to use the more expensive combination treatment.
Vitamin E and Selenium
Vitamin E has a mild anti-inflammatory effect, similar to that of aspirin-like drugs. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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| Glucosamine is derived from shrimp, oyster, and crab shells, and chondroitin is derived from cartilage of cows, pigs, and sharks. There is no synthetically made glucosamine on the market.
Glucosamine and chondroitin help regrow cartilage. However, if you have no cartilage left, these nutrients will not do any good to o artificial knees. They may help, though, with 2 your other joints. The best option is to prevent q the joint from getting to a stage of destruction (~) by using nutrients that help keep cartilage 70 tissue healthy. people with PKU. |
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D.
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| In a 3-month, double-blind study, chondroitin sulfate (1,200 mg per day) was significantly more effective than a placebo at relieving the symptoms of osteoarthritis.10 Moreover, the benefits of chondroitin sulfate became more pronounced with time. In a separate 1-year, double-blind study of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, supplementing with 800 mg per day of chondroitin sulfate significantly reduced pain, improved overall joint mobility, and appeared to slow the degenetation of joint cartilage. |
Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D.
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 Sales of glucosamine and chondroitin have been spectacular, exceeding $700 million annually. Can it last?
GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN
Ever since Jason Theodosakis, MD, wrote his giant bestseller, The Arthritis Cure, glucosamine and chondroitin (G&C) have been the most popular alternative treatments for osteoarthritis. The promise was that these dietary supplements would relieve pain and inflammation and repair damaged cartilage. How good is the evidence that G&C live up to this reputation?
Over the years there have been numerous studies published in medical journals. |
Ray D. Strand
See book keywords and concepts |
| But many of these positive studies have involved actual IV injections of chondroitin, and some researchers are concerned that chondroitin is not effectively absorbed through the Gl tract. Some say that it is broken down, then absorbed, and reassembled within the joint cartilage. I feel further studies are needed to determine its overall importance in the treatment of osteoarthritis.8
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a nutritional deficiency at literally epidemic proportions in the U.S. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Many studies have shown that glucosamine and/or chondroitin are beneficial in helping to repair damage to the joints caused by osteoarthritis (more on chondroitin in a minute). While it can't bring cartilage back, it can prevent further loss as well as reduce symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness or noise in the joints.
This is important, especially for postmenopausal women, who have a greater propensity toward osteoarthritis than men. In two independent, three-year, randomized, placebo-controlled studies, glucosamine sulfate was shown to slow the progression of osteoarthritis symptoms. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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 Dose: Start with 1,500 mg of glucosamine plus 1,200 mg of chondroitin, or start out with glucosamine only, adding chondroitin only if you don't feel benefits within about three months' time.
Boswellia serrata
Boswellia is a traditional Ayurvedic medicinal herb. It has been used to relieve arthritic symptoms for thousands of years. Modern research has pitted Boswellia against NSAIDs and found that it may be a more effective anti-inflammatory than the drugs. |
| National Institutes of Health, 67 percent of 1,583 participants who took both glucosamine (1,500 mg) and chondroitin (1,200 mg) daily had reduced pain. (Keep in mind that 60 percent of the participants who took a placebo also reported a reduction in pain—a testament to the power of the placebo effect!) A separate analysis of participants who had moderate to severe pain found an enhanced effect of the glu-cosamine/chondroitin (pain reduction in 79.2 percent) combination over the placebo (pain reduction in 54.3 percent). |
| Dose: Start with 1,500 mg of glucosamine plus 1,200 mg of chondroitin, or start out with glucosamine only, adding chondroitin only if you don't feel benefits within about three months' time.
Boswellia serrata
Boswellia is a traditional Ayurvedic medicinal herb. It has been used to relieve arthritic symptoms for thousands of years. Modern research has pitted Boswellia against NSAIDs and found that it may be a more effective anti-inflammatory than the drugs. |
| Glucosamine/chondroitin: 1,500 mg of glucosamine sulfate per day alone to start; if you don't discern any benefit within three months, try adding 1,200 mg of chondroitin daily
?MSM: Up to 6 grams daily
?Turmeric: 400-600 mg three times daily
Don't forget to follow the diet and multivitamin recommendations from Chapter 2. All forms of arthritis respond well to natural treatments, including supplements. Most of these treatments are side-effect free, and they treat the problem at its root cause rather than simply addressing the symptoms. |
| National Institutes of Health, 67 percent of 1,583 participants who took both glucosamine (1,500 mg) and chondroitin (1,200 mg) daily had reduced pain. (Keep in mind that 60 percent of the participants who took a placebo also reported a reduction in pain—a testament to the power of the placebo effect!) A separate analysis of participants who had moderate to severe pain found an enhanced effect of the glu-cosamine/chondroitin (pain reduction in 79.2 percent) combination over the placebo (pain reduction in 54.3 percent). |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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 No studies have been published on over-the-counter preparations of chondroitin sulfates and glucosamine preparations; however, a link has been established between chondroitin and IC.22 A GAG in the form of N-acetyl glucosamine or glucosamine sulfate can be used as part of a multifactorial approach to repair the bladder epithelium.
Glucosamine Sulfate
750 mg twice daily
N-Acetyl Glucosamine
500 mg twice daily
Vitamin A. |
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